At 07:41 AM 3/1/99 -0700, Rick Romea wrote:

>Maybe the following comment is unfair,

Yes. Well, innaccurate, at least.

> but in any sport, hobby, or general
>interest area, most peripheral amateurs take their cues from the pros (just
>look at the way golf clothes or basketball shoes are marketed). So perhaps
>the lack of clout by birdwatchers as a group is more a failure on the part
>of the professional naturalists/organizations than a symptom of bird-lister
>apathy (physician, heal thyself ?)

No.

I could write thousands of words on this topic. Certainly
organizations like Portland Audubon work hard to involve
the sports birding community in conservation, and some members
of that community respond.

Far too many just don't give a shit, though.

>Anyway, I still can't figure out why you guys are so offended by those of us
>who are out there chasing rare birds, when the real enemy is in the malls.

It's not the chasing of rare birds that is offensive, it is
the fact that too many who chase rare birds don't do anything
to help stop mall sprawl (to use your example).




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