Subject: Re: Common Eider in Vancouver
Date: Jan 9 01:36:30 1998
From: Michael Price - mprice at mindlink.bc.ca


Hi Tweets,

John Chandler writes:

>The Common Eider hasn't been included in the RBA scripts I post because
>there have been no reports of it. Maybe it's been around for so long
>people no longer think of it as noteworthy. If you see it, please call the
>alert at (604) 737-3074.

There's no arguing style, the saying goes, but one can certainly note the
difference a border just south of here makes.

Does *anyone* on the Vancouver BC Alert bother to call local birders to see
if it's still around? I did that frequently as a basic operating procedure
when I was running the Alert, on the principle that a passive bare minimum
was unacceptably poor service to both the membership and the larger
community. Does anyone there bother to check Tweeters posts, or do you just
post here without seeing what's been reported? If the answer is 'no-one' to
either or both of those to questions, I offer you a *radical* suggestion--

When I compare the Washington State style (and thank heavens for it!)
wherein rarities and other interesting birds *are both reported and posted
to the community with detailed directions ***and great enthusiasm*** on a
virtually daily basis*, to Vancouver BC's where a bird is discovered, the
listers tick it, coverage is perfunctory and so-what, and then it drops off
the screen (unless it gets media coverage), I'm forced to conclude that--
well, politeness forbids me to go further.

I'm always impressed that visiting out-of-town birders do such great service
for us by furnishing reports to the list with complete and detailed
directions to the bird to a much greater extent than we see from the locals,
even the local Alert. Why the difference? Local complacency? The mountain
must go to Mohammed? A shortage of online birders in Vancouver BC? Ah well,
maybe I'd better stop there: anything but outright flattery elicits the
reaction of 'Vitriol! Vitriol!' '-)

Maybe the question should be 'Why aren't more people reporting in to the
Vancouver BC Alert?' There's a number of theories making the rounds, but
that's a good starting place for self-examination.

Maybe the overall difference, though, is cultural. I dunno. Just stumps me.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)