On Wed, 23 Apr 1997, Raymond Korpi wrote:

> I too actively list and twitch (as my wife and dog would attest after
> dragging them out in Saturday's weather to get the Hooded Oriole near
> Tillamook), but also engage in other activities as well. I think one
> of the big problems with the Madera Canyon Nightjars is that most feel
> (and ABA rules encourage) that you have to see the bird to count it.

Didn't ABA just change their policy on this a year or two ago? I remember
a big to-do in Birding, and article/announcement: "Heard Birds Count!"
(and a small backlash from a prominent lister who felt the change somehow
cheapened listing).

ABA gave mostly ethical and conservation oriented reasons for the change.
Although I don't keep a list by anyone's rules by my own, I was glad to
see the change, since I know that lots of people do look to the ABA for
guidance.

As someone who birds 90% by ear and has spent a lot of time calling back
and forth with owls on dark nights, I find the change eminently sensible
on practical, ethical, and esthetic grounds.

Chris Hill
Everett, WA
cehill at u.washington.edu