>I do too. When I denigrated a certain subset of hardcore listers,
>Larry's does NOT fit the stereotype I had in mind.
>- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
>Nature photos, on-line guides, at (NEW) http://donb.photo.net


This is a very interesting thread... I'm currently taking a birding
class through the Audubon Society, where the 'party line' seems to be
toward more awareness and appreciation for our more common species and
their status and behavior. My impression is that the professionals
(like Dennis Paulson) believe that chasing rare birds has very little
to do with ornithology or natural history at all, and is some kind of
only marginally related 'sport' (my apology, Dennis, for putting words
in your mouth).


So I am gradually being socialized into 'deeper birding'...So far I
find it somewhat unnatural, all this Chickadee watching, but I'm
willing to give it a try.

I still went to Idaho for the day, though!

Rick Romea
Seattle,WA
206-523-5831
romea at stiopt.com