>I believe this issue has been discussed, but a brief review is in order.
>Most active Western Washington birders don't believe in the "Northwestern
>Crow." That is, after 25 years of seeing crows round about Puget Sound
>we have thrown up our hands at separating two "species," since there is
>no longer any ecological barrier nor, apparently, any behavioral or vocal
>barrier separating what at one time no doubt were allopatric crow
>populations. The obvious differences in voice one is struck by upon
>arrival from back east or wherever is not at all apparent if one drives
>I-90 from Ellensburg ("American Crow") to Seattle (crow sp.) to Vancouver
>("Northwestern Crow"). Definitive analyses of vocalizations remain to be
>done, & likewise DNA analyses, but morphological evidence (and informal
>vocal evidence) suggest the view that the northwestern crow intergrades
>clinally with adjacent American crow populations throughout the Puget
>Sound region.
>
>Gene Hunn (hunn at u.washington.edu)

I wonder if it might not be time again to inform tweeters how to find info
on such "old business." I don't think it's inappropriate at all for
newcomers to The Net or to tweeters to ask questions that have been
answered before, but it would be great (and efficient, which I sort of
like) if it were easy for such a person to be referred to previously posted
comments. Gene's summary above is just the sort of well-composed and
informative statement that ought to be easily accessed once it's archived,
so someone can be directed to it, and he doesn't have to write it again
(although it does get better, at least more succinct, with each writing!).

Speaking just for myself, there are some subjects about which I've written
multi-minute mini-essays, and I would love it if someone had easy access to
one of them when asking about the subject, rather than my having to locate
those particular brain cells again. There's been many a little-known fact,
many a poetic phrase, and many an impassioned attitude that would be the
best "reference" for a particular subject, and they should be more easily
accessible. I think all those who have contributed profusely would second
the emotion!

Dan or Steve, could you post a paragraph again on how to search tweeters
archives for subjects, and include the paragraph as part of the info
package for anyone who joins? Such info isn't part of the packet I
received, but maybe you've modified it subsequently.

This of course supports the recent request to make the subject line agree
with the subject (amazing concept!) rather than just repeating "Re: xxxxx"
every time, even though the subject has changed drastically by then.

Thanks for the welcome back. When I'm away from tweeters I do wonder what
pearls of wisdom, humor, and irreverence I'm missing.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416