Hi Tweets,

Richard Rowlett writes:

>It's not a big deal and not worth losing sleep
>over and probably not worth the confusion and hassel by challenging and
>overturning the AOU committee and messing up all those books and checklists in
>print.

Relax, Richard-san, I offered it as an observation only. Compared to Europe,
where every country has its Ornithological Union and national Rarities
Committee, the North American model is unusual in that one country has ceded
taxonomic and nomenclatural authority to the other. As far as changing it,
the Great Middle in both countries obviously seems satisfied with the
present system, and it has its advantages.

One disadvantage, though, is shown by the example back when a lot of
Canadian birders got a lot of steam up but had no place to go when the AOU
deep-sixed Canada Jay (Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis) with precious little
sensitivity to the little guys up north here.

Arr, I tells ye, 'twas a black day, Richard me bye, a *black* day for
Canada--why yes, anudder one to warm the coals and polish the throat for
singin' would be noice... '-)

Michael Price We aren't flying...we're falling with style!
Vancouver BC Canada -Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
mprice at mindlink.net