Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com

On the RBA thread: I did the Seattle RBA for three years and enjoyed it
immensely, but found it a lot of work. I'd like to second Kas's and Bob's
comments. One thing I found useful was to simply modify the wording to
subtly indicate my confidence in the report: "A Brown Booby was seen perched
on Pier 70 in downtown Seattle yesterday," might be reworded, "A Brown Booby
was reported perched on Pier 70 in downtown Seattle yesterday. Confirmation
of this extraordinary sighting is desired."



At 08:59 AM 1/20/98 -0800, you wrote:
>In response to:
>
>
>> From: Kas Dumroese <dumroese at uidaho.edu>
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Subject: Re: What are the objectives of an RBA?
>> Date: Tuesday, January 20, 1998 12:37 AM
>
>
>Thanks, Kas, you said it well. Sounds like a practical view of the RBA
>intent.
>
>Anyone can see a rare/unusual bird but it 'is' more likely that an
>experienced observer will recognize what they have seen and feel
>comfortable reporting it. I doubt that I have any reputation in this
>geographical area but feel qualified to report some sightings and would
>seek support for others. If it is a "good" bird there is usually someone
>else around who would want to see it and can act as confirming observer.
>In the "Time of Tweeters" it shouldn't be hard to put it on the net, have
>someone (or several) dash to see it and confirm or deny the report as soon
>as possible.
>
>Salem, Oregon has (had?) a telephone tree of hardcore birders. Whenever
>something good was found the notifications started. It didn't take long
>for one to tell three, those three each tell three ......... if it became
>a stakeout almost everyone could get it. If it wasn't what it was thought
>to be or it left the area, it died on the tree (so to speak). No
>recriminations ... good birds were savored and mis-IDs tolerated.
>
>It's a tough balance between too much info for a phone call and too little
>to find the bird. Tweeters can carry more than the phone by time and
>access for some (laptops and links). Maybe to some degree there are
>different purposes at work here.
>
>Perhaps RBAs could separate "tentative" and "confirmed" sightings without
>hurt to individual finder's feelings regardless of the degree of expertise
>on the finder.
>
>Bob
>Federal Way, WA
>taylorrt at foxinternet.net
>
>----------
>> From: Kas Dumroese <dumroese at uidaho.edu>
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Subject: Re: What are the objectives of an RBA?
>> Date: Tuesday, January 20, 1998 12:37 AM
>
>
>