At 07:36 PM 11/9/98 -0800, Craig Corder wrote:
>Thanks Randy, I was hoping somebody would mention this tragedy.
>Kathy Cheap was always nice to me (& I suspect everyone else).
>I only met Mike Callow once (in the field) & he also impressed me.
>They will be missed!

I've never met either, but know others who do such flights and
couldn't help but think of them when I heard the news in the
Oregonian a few days ago. Biology in these parts involves
a lot of travel in many cases, and on the air and on the ground
far too many get nailed while working.

While I can't miss them in a personal sense (as I've never met
either of them) I certainly felt a great deal of sadness when I
saw the report in the paper. The only optimistic statement that
comes to mind is that most rank-and-file wildlife biologists are
deeply committed to conservation in my experience, and a career
in pursuit of that endeavor is one noble enough to make such
accidental deaths an understandable, though of course painful and
hurtful, cost.


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net