If birding is a triangle, and I agree that it is a good analogy, what do
"nuts" like me who are birders, scientists (actually still working on my
wildlife biology degree) and can't resist the aspect of all kinds of
listing (life, state life, year, county etc.) belong to?
Are we just over enthusiatic about birds and want to be involved in every
aspect of them, or just "nuts" that can't make up their mind. I'm not
sure, and I might be both, because regularly I realize that science helps
save the birds but I just can't get the competive side out of my mind. I
would be curious to see what other scientific types that also list feel
about the subject. Sometimes they go great together, other times I hear
scientific and birding types critizing each other and find merit to both
of their statements and find myself in the middle.

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA



On Fri, 18 Apr 1997, Craig Corder wrote:

> At 04:24 PM 4/16/97 -0700, you wrote:
>
> >My mom is seeing someone and this person, Bob, is into birding. I knew that
> >he liked too look at birds but I don't understand WHY a person would be a
> >birder. ...snip
>
> Hi Jared:
> I think Birders come in three extremes with unlimited combinations in
> between. Picture a triangle with an extreme at each corner. You can fill
> in the triangle with all the possibilities. Also, people can quickly move
> all around the triangle depending on the stimulus of the moment.
>
> Extreme #1 is the Scientist. He/she is interested in knowing everything
> about a bird's life including range and habitat requirements.
>
> Extreme #2 is the Bird Watcher. He/she is facinated about how neat birds
> are and just enjoys being around them.
>
> Extreme #3 is the Lister. He/she is in it for the sport of finding or
> seeing rare or out-of-place birds. A BLUE JAY is common in Nebraska, but is
> rare in Seattle. This is a competitive sport to see how many bird species
> can be identified in a particular area over a particular time period. I
> describe Listing as hunting without the violence.
>
> I admit to being an Extreme Lister, but occasionally I move to the center of
> the triangle and find myself watching or studying birds. Listers are the
> ugly step-sister of this group. Some Birders find Extreme Listers to be
> disgusting. I don't understand what harm we are causing. It just proves to
> me that human beings are elitists by nature, even those with wierd hobbies.
>
> Give Birding a try, you might like it.
>
> Craig Corder Dare to be different.
> Hermiston OR
> ccorder at eonet.com
>
>