[Birdtalk] Newcomer

[Kaye & Lynn Garner]

Recent discussion surrounding Dr. Wood has certainly generated more  
heat than light. Perhaps, being new to the birding community, even  
though I've been a birding hobbyist for 30 years, I should not say  
anything, but this seems like a place where a little knowledge might  
help us.

Reading in between the lines, and based on recent experiences of my  
own, I'm guessing that there are rules about bird records that are  
not being stated. It's like communication--it is not enough to be  
understood, you must not be misunderstood. I suspect that for an  
unusual sighting to be verified, the observer(s) must not only make  
the sighting plausible, but must eliminate every other possibility.  
(I'd like to know if this is actually the case.) For this reason, I  
suspect the vast majority of sightings of unusual birds go  
unverified--there is just not enough information in the field to  
eliminate every other possibility.

Meanwhile, for me, this is a hobby, and I'll participate in it as  
long as it brings me joy. I don't feel the need to be official; I get  
enough of that at work!

I have enjoyed reading most of the e-mail communications over the  
past few months. They have led me to some (for me) rare and new  
sightings, as well as new acquaintances. My impression is that the  
vast majority of the birding community are just hobbyists like me,  
but it is clear that some can get too serious about it.

Lynn Garner
Provo