David Wright wrote: "Re the perceived paucity of "hotshot" female birders,
I don't think it has
anything to do with birding per se. It is just one more example of males
becoming obsessed with a recreational activity. It might just as well be
golf. The real question is why are males more likely than females to
become obsessed with such things? I suspect the answer is more
sociological than biological."

But David, how do you then explain the presence of more women than men on
birding trips? I know many of them are retired older women, some of whom
have lost a husband and find this a wonderful recreational activity. But
then why aren't a lot of older women taking up golf or other obsessive
recreational activities? Lots of older men also do birding; it's the
younger women who are relatively scarce.

And there are at least as many female as male grad students in zoology (but
not on zoology faculties, yet).

Then I guess you don't think testosterone has anything to do with it.....

Dennis Paulson 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