Rick Romea wrote:

> Arthur Berman says:
> > I ... have more stringent requirements for my lifelist (I don't list heard
> birds),
>
> What's wrong with identifying a bird by sound? Are eyes more believable
> than ears?

I've been blessed with good vision and not so great ability to distinguish
sound. My primary concern with adding a bird to my lifelist is accuracy. And,
as I've probably made clear, I don't worry about any "rules" set up by others,
but I follow my own stringently. As for fudging, since I make no comparisons
with others and consider myself an intermediate birder, I'd rather learn from
others than inflate my own "credentials". Birding is a hobby for me, and I do
it to relax, not to add more tension to my life. I don't want or expect anyone
to follow my "rules". They work for me.

Arthur Berman aberman at freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Vancouver, BC