In response to Irene Wanner's question about the use of birding site
guides, Larry de March responded:

>Hi Tweeters In response to Irene Wanners question about shooting fish
>in a barrel - One of my greatest pleasures in birding comes when I
>decide to find a lifer or other special bird. I'll research the bird's
>habits, habitats, migration routes and times. Then, the big test.
> ... [snip] ... I found the right habitat earlier in the year,
>picked a day, drove to the spot, stepped out of the car and there was a
>flock of 13 of them. Further down the road was a field with at last 100
>more.

>To find whooping cranes in Canada I did a bit more research, finding
>scientific papers on their migration ... [snip] ... I actually found
>some cranes at sites other than the ones suggested to me.

Larry -- I love your attitude and approach! Thank you for sharing your
perspective (nice to hear from someone as far away as Manitoba). Irene -- I
share your concern. Site guides can be wonderful help, but I am a bit leary
of people depending on them (or other birders) too much. It is a great help
when one is just starting out. But, personally, I love the learning process
and tend to believe that there's nothing quite like doing a little
preparation by doing a little "homework", then using what one has learned
to go out and actually discover something on your own. It is indeed a great
pleasure - you have learned and understood more about that species, and if
you are lucky to find them in areas not handed to you on a site-guide
platter, no one can take away the joy of your own discovery.

I can also relate to Don's perspective on site guides such as the old
Lane's. Sitting in front of me is perhaps the exact edition he was
referring to, the guide to southeastern Arizona. My brother gave it to me
when he got the newest edition, as incentive for planning a trip there
together. It has his notes pencilled in the margins, a treasure which
unfortunately I haven't yet read (you should see the size of my reading
shelf!). The best of such guides can indeed reflect someone "fully enjoying
birds as part of the natural world" as Don stated. They do help. But birds
move around, have mysterious ways, and are not always altogether
predictable. That is the joy of birding. So my vote is to use site guides
and other birders' advice if you want to, but more important is to go out
and discover them for yourself.

-- Janet Hardin
Port Townsend, WA
wings at olympus.net