On Tue, 12 Dec 1995, Kelly Cassidy wrote:

> five minutes, and releasing it, to be the height of cruelty. Nor, for
> that matter, would a quick death for a museum specimen be so awful.
> Few birds die of old age; few even have a greater than 20% survival in
> their first year.
>
> It seems to me that this issue has become an issue because this bird
> has become so personalized. As Bernt Heinrich (sp?) might phrase it,
> (see 'One Man's Owl'), this longspur has become more than the
> 'statistical' bird; it has become Tweeter's bird.

This is precisely the point! It is not just any CCLO, it is a celebrity.
Many people have seen it, watched it; it has been a life experience for
many, an experience they will always remember. Every time they see this
species, they will recall with fond memories their first bird.

If that individual bird comes to a bad end by being collected or
mishandled, it would have a chilling effect on the already strained
relations between professional ornithologists and recreational birders.
The next time a rarity shows up, birders may be reluctant to spread the
word for fear that the same bad end will befall it as befell the CCLO.
The situation would end up polarizing two groups who should be
cooperating and helping each other.

It must be remembered that a decision on whether to collect a celebrity
rarity, is not strictly a scientific decision, but a social decision.
How people feel is important. Not all people will feel the same way, but
a respect and understanding of the feelings of others is important context
in making such decisions.

----------
Joe Morlan
Albany, CA
jmorlan at slip.net