My personal rule is that there has to be an established population nearby to count it as a legitimate sighting.

=========================================
Ned McGarry
Kirkland, WA
nmcgarry at gte.net


-----Original Message-----
From: sanjer at televar.com [SMTP:sanjer at televar.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 8:45 PM
To: tweeters; Inland-nw-birders
Subject: Re: THE STORK!and Minot, ND



MBlanchrd at aol.com wrote:

> << Can I include the stork on my life list? >>
>
> Is it or is it not a life list bird when
> it's obviously an escapee?

Speaking of "legal", can we say "innocent until proven guilty" Has it be proven
beyond reasonable doubt that the bird is an escapee?

> It's not fair to count birds you see in the zoo or
> an aviary,

I agree.

> so how can it be "legal" to count an escapee??

'If' it is an escapee how long does it have to be in the wild before it can be
counted, or is it forever shunned. Is it branded a ex-con for the rest of its
life? :-(

Who made these rules? A bird is a bird and if you saw it, you saw it. If you do
or don't count it is up to you. I don't think there is a "List Patrol" :-))

Speaking of lists..this thursday night we are heading for Minot, ND by train to
visit our daughter and hopefully get a couple of afternoons of birding in. If we
see 6 lifers we will have 400! Oh-oh...one of those listers. ;-)

Does anyone know of any good birding spots in a 50 mile radius of Minot.

Thanks

Jerry and Sandy Converse
Grand Coulee, WA
mailto:sanjer at televar.com

http://members.tripod.com/nature_scenic_photos/

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the Ark and
Professionals built the Titanic.