Howdy,

Being new to the area and Tweeters, I've been very reluctant to get involved in this discussion. I've also been very reluctant to dignify the original posting with a response. But with regret, I've been sucked into the discussion.

I wouldn't say there's any difference of 'opinion' on Goshawk occurences. It's clearly entirely a case of one person incorrectly identifying raptors, and I base this statement on the photographs provided on the goshawks
of tucson website, not my preconceived ideas on the subject. At best, a few photos are unidentifiable. All others _clearly_ show Cooper's Hawks and some Sharp-shinned Hawks. One may be a Red-tailed Hawk. No photos are definitively Northern Goshawks, and the few unidentifiable photos are _strongly_ suggestive that they are NOT goshawks. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that every other, or at the very least a vast majority, report not supported by photographs is also incorrect.

Now the latest posting from Mr. Briefer seems to suggest that there are birds that are Northern Goshawks that just happen to otherwise look like Cooper's Hawks (or other species?). I'm not one to just dismiss a hypothesis by saying it's impossible, but unless this "accipiter alert" or whatever is backed up by data, preferably some sort of genetic work, it's just one person proclaiming a bird to be one species despite the fact that it looks entirely like another. It looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, but for some reason it's not a duck? Hmmm.

I apologize for this posting, but I feel that it would be bad example for beginner birders to dismiss this as only a difference of opinion. Giving the postings and blogs of Mr. Briefer _any_ credence with the data submitted to this point is just ridiculous. I won't mind being proven wrong on this subject, but I'm not expecting it.

John Puschock
Wedgwood, Seattle
g_g_allin at hotmail.com
http://www.birdtreks.com


> From: merlinmania at comcast.net
> To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:38:47 +0000
> CC:
> Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Null Goshawk data
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> Although I'm one who normally detests "cease and desist" type messages on Tweeters I intend to be a hypocrite in this case. I'm hoping we can put this whole Goshawk thread to rest - although I know I am in large part resposible for starting it.
>
> I don't think a difference of opinion on Goshawk occurences needs to get personal and hope others won't make it so. Its simply a difference of opinion - not an uncommon occurence in accipiter ID!
>
> Good birding,
>
> --
> Jim Flynn
> merlinmania at comcast.net
> Seattle, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

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