Hello Michael,
This you said was so nice.It was so much fun I can not to put it in
words.And as Patrick wrote a humble apologize the many birders responded and
supported him coming up with all the many "Worst ID blunders.What again
showed so much support.And al;so the two Pink-footed Geese created so much
excitement to our dull Tweeters lately.I compared it also with all the
discussion what is going on in OBOL..Good to mention Lanas Cafe where so
many birders had lunch.I picked up a new Bird book "Birds of Europe" what I
saw in Bowerman by Carol Schulz ,and especial to see all the birders who
came and was exited to.Most birders did not care that this birds dot get
confirmed we all know that,but to seeing a European Species where you can
ever see this Geese?I made a special folder from messages who was imported
and also to learn from.It was all worth while to me and I can not thank
birders enough for all you support and keep you sightings coming.I probable
saw this two Geese seven times and yesterday I took my best photo of the two
Pink-footed Geese.I forgot to mention Joe Highbee who I ask to join me ,in
case this birds was to far for my lenses to taken Photos Joe got a good
digital Cannon Camera who he can get close shots.Joe did not mind staying
out in the flooded fields to snap some photos of the White-fronted Geese
what Paul and David saw on the 16th in K-Street.But what ever the out come I
accept the result and learn from this a little bit more about all this
different Geese with there subspecies.And thank Michael to went again out of
you way to find out and looking for more experts on Geese.


Cheers Ruth Sullivan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Patterson" <celata at pacifier.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: Counting Observers


> You know, maybe I'm just getting old, but....
>
> To me the relevant issue isn't who wins the debate over whether
> the records committee puts these birds in the box marked wild or
> the one mark origin questionable (and for the record I think
> the origin questionable box is where these guys belong).
>
> The relevant issues are:
> 1. Did you have a good time going to Bowerman Basin looking
> for them?
> 2. Did you see lots of stuff (including these two birds which,
> wild or not, look like Pink-footed Geese)?
> 3. Did you learn anything?
>
> To this end, counting the number of people who went out to Bowerman
> Basin to look for two Pink-footed Geese (origin questionable or not)
> is a worthwhile endeavor. Wild or not, these birds are contributing
> to the local economy of the Hoaquim area and raising the general
> consciousness of folks to the value of wild spaces. Knowing how
> many people took the trip is useful information. It also suggests
> that countabilty may not have been (and maybe shouldn't be) the reason
> many made the chase.
>
> AND JUST AS IMPORTANT!! Ruth and Patrick and everyone else needs
> to continue to be observant, report what they find and ask the
> questions that need to be asked. If our adventures out in the
> field start to be about second guessing reactions of others and
> withholding those birds that are questionable then:
> 1. We won't have any fun
> 2. We won't see lots of stuff
> and
> 3. We won't learn anything.
>
> Ruth, you keep watching and taking pictures and asking questions.
>
> --
> Mike Patterson
> Astoria, OR
> celata at pacifier.com
>
> You've got to accentuate the positive
> eliminate the negative
> latch on to the affirmative
> Don't mess with Mr. In-Between.
> - Johnny Mercer
>
> http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html
>