Tweeters,

The news about the loss of more bird species is indeed disturbing
and frightening and we do need to be reminded of this. It saddens me deeply
when I hear of this. Perhaps some innovative ideas could be put forth for
what we
can do as a community and as individuals instead of simply lamenting the
loss and
generalizing about the "mainland birders."

It is certainly someone's right in this country to sit in judgement of
other's activities. By the same token, it is an individual's right to drive
400 miles to add another bird to their list. We have all had experience
with birders who arrived at a location, took a two-minute look at a new bird
species and went on their way. This is much rarer than the birder who
studies every feather of that life bird for hours (if the bird will allow
it). Each of these new species are life experiences in themselves and for
most birders they bring great joy. For me, number 456 was the Fork-tailed
Flycatcher at Chinook, Washington in 1995. No this is not just a number but
a
recollection of a wonderful morning. Arriving in the early morning hours of
a foggy September day, the first rays of light burned off the morning fog
and this magnificent creature appeared out of the mist. Your heart races,
your
hands shake (I wish they didn't) and pure joy pulsates through your body.
This is fun; this is the adventure of the chase; this is a morning I will
never forget.

Birding is many things to many people. It is that first arriving Tree
Swallow in the spring. Perhaps it is running a Breeding Bird Survey Route,
participating in a banding project or simply enjoying the song of the Winter
Wren on a drippy winter's day. And yes, part of birding might be chasing a
bird that one may not have a chance to see under other circumstances. There
are far worse activities that one could be pursuing on this planet. Birding
is all of these things but birding also involves having a true and deep
concern for all the living creatures of the natural world. It is my opinion
that "most" birders share this feeling.

Ted Kenefick
tedk at nwlink.com
Seattle, WA.