Maybe my little discussion of stereotypes needs some
clarification, since it seems to have been misunderstood. It
doesn't mean that some people don't fit the stereotype - that's
how it got started in the first place. But I know several female
birders who are every bit as good as male birders, but they don't
get much recognition. And, these are people who are not bringing
up children at the moment. And, I know a few men who spend a lot
less time birding now that their children have demands on THEIR
time - soccer coach, etc. So I think it is true that having
children limits birding time. It also more than likely limits
birding time more for women than for men. I know a couple of
divorces that happened because the women got tired of absentee
birding husbands. So raising children no doubt accounts for
*some* of the lack of female "hotshots". But it in no way
accounts for all of the really large difference people observe
in the number of male vs. female "hotshots".

And on another related topic. I have no trouble whatsoever in
being obsessive about projects, birding or otherwise. Let's
blow that stereotype out of the water, too, and let people be
themselves, and be open-minded enough to listen to the
individual and who he/she is before we jump to conclusions and
put that person in a category where he/she doesn't belong.
(Please, I don't mean that I took personal offense at this
topic's discussion - I'm just trying to add general philosophy,
with a personal example).

--
Barbara Combs obie '70
Eugene, OR
bcombs at ednet1.osl.or.gov