June 22, 1997

Greg Butcher, ABA Executive Director
Dan Williams, ABA President

ABA is being whacked about the head on the birders' e-mail networks regarding the perception that ABA is about to embark on a course taking it and BIRDING magazine into a focus on conservation at the expense of the traditional field birding for which the organization was established and has a unique role.

It would be to ABA's advantage to post on the e-mail groups some kind of status report describing what is going on pretty soon, before rumors exceed reality. Many of the northwest's active birders, myself included, have reacted very negatively to what "GossipNet" has been saying about the situation. Our thinking is that North America has many conservation organizations and only one birding organization with a magazine for serious birders whose primary interest is in identification, distribution and related issues.

ABA and BIRDING have done some wonderful things in recent years. We all hope to be able to continue supporting this great organization. In the event that you want to post anything directly to the Oregon or Washington birders on-line groups (about 800 people) feel free to send it to me and I will forward to the groups.

Regards,

Alan Contreras
Salem, Oregon
acontrer at navicom.com