>The Herald, Saturday March 15, 1997, page B1 (Associated Press):
Also in The Olympian, same day.
>
>Seattle - Rumor was, a great gray owl had been seen in Bridle Trails
>Park, the first time one had been seen in King County in a century.
> But when a subscriber to the Tweeters Internet e-mail list asked if
>it were true, there was no response.
> In fact, one of the birds, which normally are found in northern
>Canada forests, had been seen in the park near Kirkland. But those
>who spotted it debated whether to share their find.
> The concern, said ornithologist Jim Erckmann, is that "so many
>people will come, it will disturb it so much it won't be able to feed.
>Or they could drive it away."

Well, this makes us all look a little ugly, doesn't it? The "experts"
deciding which sightings will be released to the "masses" of garden variety
birders, because the masses are unable to control their desire for new or
unusual birds. This sets up a potential unpleasant dynamic; what if the
masses decide to stop sharing their interesting sightings with the experts?
Then where will we be, everybody keeping the good birds for themselves and
their friends? One would hope for a bit more respect on all parts, both for
the birds and for other birders. But if we don't have it, what? I have no
answers, only more questions, and a feeling of dismay that we've
already sunk so far.

Rob Saecker
just west of Olympia