> Donate it to Falcon Research Group or some other worthy organization.

May I go out on a limb here, and suggest that the above statement be
changed to:

'Donate it to Falcon Research Group *or* some worthy organization.'

What is so worthy or great about FRG? I would like to hear a member's
defense of this group. Really, I would. I would like to hear the
products of money and time from this group.

IMHO, The noble-sounding name doesn't really do justice to other real
research groups. Has any really good data been generated from FRG, or do
they just chase falcons around in the winter? Alot of money was spent on
a transmitter for a Gyrfalcon (which fell off), but how were the data
used? Locational data from one individual is not very useful
scientifically. But the biggest peeve is the secrecy involving data (such
as nesting records for Peregrine and Merlin). *Real* scientists are
interested in expanding the knowledge base, not keeping things to
themselves. A fear of being 'scooped' is understandable, but this action
is rare and highly unethical.

I understand Bud Adams is a raptor expert, and I certainly respect that,
and his knowledge. But any group that claims to be a research group,
then keeps everything they learn to themselves, isn't really of value to
the research community.

If tweets want to donate excess tee-shirt money, maybe it should go
elsewhere (Nature Conservancy gets my vote), or maybe to Dan Victor for
helping us get along!

-------------
Michael R. Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html