Forests and Trees

First, I would like to applaud the ongoing discussion on sightings and
corrections. So many good posts, so much good information, so much good
incidental learning from the excellent examples given.

In view of the above, I would like to present a most rare sighting - a
novice birder in any (public) forum. I suspect that novice birders may
grown at a linear rate, the conducive "birder environment" being extremely
psychologically taxing.

My concern lies with the exponential rate of environmental degradation our
planet faces where habitat destruction and species extinction are an
imminent threat. So many nations on this planet are reaching for the
middle class comforts that we in the United States take for granted. The
level of environmental destruction that we have visited on our continent in
the quest for this comfort in the last hundred or so years will accelerate
at an alarming rate (this is an understatement).

By 1990's statistics, 22% of the world's more developed countries (MCD's)
commanded 80% of the world's wealth. At that point, that left 4.3 billion
people, or 78% of the less developed countries (LCD's), who had 20% of the
world's remaining resources. The rapid economic shift from national to
global economy will surely shift the above statistics (courtesy of Miller's
Environmental Science, Sustaining the Earth), as all people rightly demand
a piece of the pie we have for so long taken for granted.

As we celebrate bird sightings, and hopefully other wildlife also, lets
also nurture novice birders. They are the footsoldiers on the forefront of
environmental awareness, appreciation, and sustainability. One novice
nurtured will hopefully multiply into many "tweeter lovers". Our planet,
our environment, our flora and fauna, thank you for being good stewards.
My hat is off to you wonderful birders.

Ingrid Ossanna
Elma, Washington
taiona at centurytel.net



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