Subject: perhaps not-so-Great-a-Black-backed Gull
Date: Feb 20 09:54:53 2004
From: Beth Kirady - itsez2spell at yahoo.com


Myself, as well as a host of other birders I am in contact with, are no longer reporting our finds with regard to the possible GBBG at Renton. The bird looks like a GBBG, but hey ya know what, it also looks a little not like a GBBG. Scott Atkinson's post where he told Phil in Oregon to "cease his tireless arguements" and supplied his own contrived possible motives for these posts was the last straw. A number of us were quite intrigued by the back and forth as to what the identity of this large, seemingly not quite textbook gull might be and found Scott's post most unappealing, uneducational and seemingly very rude. Maybe you can't identify every bird every time, even if you think you can; especially some of the large gulls (as well see the recent discussion regarding scaup on OBOL). I think it was Mike in Oregon who asked that since so many gull species have "other" blood in their lineage, when is there enough in a hybrid to count it on an official state list as one species !
or
another. There did seem to be some legitimate questions regarding the Renton gull's appearance, but once the "you must call it a GBBG" jugernaut got rolling, many of us just didn't wanna play anymore. I for one would love to read the thoughts of those who have taken the time to study the bird in person or just from the photos. Those who don't care for these thoughts should not read them. I would much rather have to delete a post regarding what I believe is a truly valid excercise (even if repetitive) than to have to skip another one regarding Trinidad and Tobago. But,oh, then there is the precious index space the discussion ate up.... Then again, perhaps this has all been "settled" already, as Dennis flat out called it a GBBG and suggested that we let the Gods of the records committee (several of which I know have not even attempted to see the bird in person yet) make the decree and stop the public discussion amongst us little people. I hope the records committee issues som!
e sort of
report, as other states do, regarding the acceptance or rejection of many pending state and/or county records; the Painted Bunting in Seattle, the Pink-footed Geese at Hoquium and this gull are just a few that spring to mind. Where can I read the details of the Little Curlew of several years back? The Whiskered Auklet? Didn't that bird have a "bum leg"; couldn't it easily have been ship assisted? Inquiring minds want to know on what basis these records are being accepted or rejected.
I'm willing to see the Renton bird as a GBBG within the margins of variation. I just wish those who believe so fervently this is a GBBG would concede that perhaps not everything is as it appears to their eye. Rodney King said it best "can't we all just get along"?
Beth Kirady
Bothell, Washington
itsez2spell at yahoo


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