Hello All,

Just wanted to share with you the new ABA area requirement that will no longer allow listing of new bird species for your life list that are seen through knot holes. The ABA feels that looking at birds through knot holes is some what under handed and is not "gaming" or fair to the birds. Kind of like hearing a new species and counting it even though you have never really seen it in your life. So it was decided by the ABA committee that knot hole birding is out and that you must be outside of a cabin or clap board latrine in order to observe any new bird species for your life list. Mr. Robert L. Kliest of DimeBox, Texas is very upset as he has built himself a knot hole blind out of an abandoned cabin from across the street. Most of his "good" birds were seen from that blind through the knot holes. Mrs. J. P. Monson a long time ABA member is really sore over this new rule as she had taken the time to hammer out all the old tin can lids her late father Chester had hammered onto the house to block all those woodpecker holes in the walls of the house. So no doubt this new rule will cause some folks heart burn and also create ethical issues for some. The ABA no doubt sees this new rule as a black and white issue and really does not see the need for"outside" discussion. So I guess you could write them or call their office to let them know how you feel about the loss of knot hole birding.
Thank-you Mike Denny
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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley

"If you haven't birded, you haven't lived"