In a message dated 8/1/99 1:14:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
footet at elwha.evergreen.edu writes:

<< But is such reporting in the best
> interests of the bird? I would be curious to have the thoughts of others,
>>

I think you have to take such things on a case by case by case basis. For
instance, if I were to find an extremely rare or endangered bird nesting in
an area it's not normally found, I think I'd report the sighting to Russell
Rogers, and perhaps even have someone like him or someone else come out to
corroborate my finding.

However I wouldn't go to the newspapers with it, NOT because I'm selfish,
NOT because I think I'm better than anyone else, but only to keep the
"pressure" off the bird. I might report it to TWEETERS, with the admonition
that I saw it, it's been corroborated, but in the interest of the bird, I
won't tell you where. Ethical birders would understand, I hope.
Some birds don't take kindly to human intervention or even human observation.
Case in point are the white tailed kites (black shouldered, same same)
nesting on Glacial Heritage. They're flighty and don't really allow anyone to
get close to them, no matter what they're doing. So, I know where they are
nesting, however, I haven't been within a half mile of the nest site. I can
see them with binos, and I allow empirical knowledge and imagination fill in
the details.

However, if I were to find, oh, say, a Rufous Hummingbird's nest, I'd report
it to all, and I wouldn't have too much trepidation about approaching the
nest. Reason being, they aren't endangered, they're very tolerant of human
activity and proximity, and they're common, meaning many of us have seen them
nesting.

I do think, though, that the information needs to be publicized in some way
or fashion. There's plenty of anti-environmentalists out there who are using
science to twist things to their own agenda. If they were to say, "We intend
on logging this particular patch of forest." and I happened to know and see a
pair of spotted owls nesting in it, I'd certainly be remiss in not letting
that information be known until after the anti's had proclaimed their intent.
They'd have all the strength they'd need to say,
"Too late, you should have said something sooner." And they'd probably win.

So the point is........if you have information, sightings, photos, etc of
areas, by all means publish the infomation in some form or fashion. Use
common sense, of course, in who and what........I've heard there are grizzly
bears in the NE forests of Washington, but I don't know for sure. I like to
think they're there, and if they are, I don't think my running around trying
to find them is going to help them. I might even wind up being bear
droppings, (which is why I stick birds....:-) :-) :-) )

Michelle
Littlerock, WA