Subject: Magnuson Park
Date: Feb 8 22:28:02 2002
From: Lee & Lori Cain - lcain at seasurf.net


Ellen, I encourage to you post again another day.

As less-than expert-birder myself, and one who has mis-posted bird sightings
before and been embarrassed (and no doubt will again), I have to
respectfully differ with Dennis about public postings of observations.

I teach kids biology, and have added birding to my other tricks as a way to
re-awaken their natural interest in science. Kids learn by making mistakes
best, not by being told only what is right, and so do adults. Posting
online (and reading the polite corrective responses) has played a major part
in honing my birding and general natural science observational skills.
Without it I probably would still be far more incautious.

I think that posting publicly is a great way to increase the education of
the beginning birders out there, given the number of very knowledgeable
birders out there who are willing to politely correct. I am sure that
Dennis did not intend to squelch your enthusiasm to share what you've seen.

Besides, I didn't know that Westerns were rare at Magnuson in winter, and
now I do...thanks for making the mistake for me! :)

Lee Cain
Aquatic Biology/Integrated Science
Astoria High School
lcain at seasurf.net