I wasn't going to post a reply to this topic anymore but I am happy and sad to say that I have 27 personal e-mails in my inbox showing they're support. Happy because I know I wasn't the only one to take those comments the wrong way but also sad and disappointed to know that regardless of how many e-mails I have showing support nobody wants to give they're point of view in fear of being looked down on. I guess what really upset me was the comment about chasing birds. In the past two years I have seen and heard three birders that I look up to from Connecticut talking negatively about birders who chase rare birds. Is it wrong to want to chase down these rare birds? What is so wrong with it? Am I missing something here? The point to my e-mail was yes birders are out there. BUT just because we aren't birding the coast people don't think we are around. Maybe shorebirds just aren't everyone's cup of tea. I know several birders who don't bird the shore because they don't own a scope. They're still out in the heat every weekend looking for good birds though. I give Nick, Luke and others much credit for all the time they put in birding along the coast. In one way I envy them because I wish I had the time they do to bird but at the same time I have two son's (one and three years old) and any free time I have they get so my birding is cut in half and I wouldn't trade it for the world. To close my message I just wanted to make it clear that in no way was they're any disrespect toward Roy. I realize that he sacrifices plenty of personal time to make sure an accurate daily report goes out every night. Many thanks goes out to him BUT does than mean I have to agree with every note or comment in his report? If he can make a few comment's towards birders why can't I ? I didn't post that message this morning to get everyone all upset. I sent it out looking for answers. Answers that have yet to be answered. Instead we took my posting and put a spin on it and instead of answering my questions we started defending each other and patting our self on the back. If you think that I am totally wrong in getting upset over all this then let me have it. If you agree with me then I would love to hear from you. I'm not trying to clutter up the list serve so please feel free to e-mail me privately. Either way please just read, listen, and try to understand my point of view. Thanks, Mark Barriger Hamden, CT >From: David.F.Provencher@dom.com >To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org >Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Where are all the birder's >Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 18:50:37 -0400 > > >It's seems to me that offense has been taken where none was intended. The >people who mentioned they felt few birders were in the field did so because >of their awareness that this is absolutely prime time for shorebird >rarities. Sometimes when you know that great birds are in the offing you >expect to see more birders out and about, and sometimes they are... just >not where you are. In fairness to the posters it must be pointed out that >the daily reports have indicated relatively few reports are being sent in >as of late, which could easily be interpreted as fewer people taking to the >field. I have total confidence that Roy meant nothing disparaging in last >nights daily report. That simply is not something Roy would do. I have the >privilege of knowing Roy personally as well as a great many of the other >birders who have contributed to this forum. I realize why some of us felt >stung by the posts but I am absolutely confident that there is no reason >for anyone to take umbrage. Simply a misunderstanding among good people. As >a point of fact I have been on the sidelines myself as a result of a >difficult divorce and having to parent my 9 year old (gladly) during most >of my free time. I used to be in the field as much or more than anyone and >when I read last nights post I knew exactly what Roy and the others >intended to mean by their comments. They are excited and full of hopeful >expectations which they just wanted to express as a call to the troops so >to speak. And the fact is this is indeed high season for >shorebird/shoreline rarities. Also Roy is absolutely right, it does feel >better to find a rarity yourself, I was lucky enough to do it quite a bit >in the past and hope to get back to doing it again soon. > >I for one highly value the existence of this forum and also highly >appreciate those who make it possible. I would hope that anyone who feels >slighted by something that was posted would contact the poster directly to >discuss it rather than do so in an open forum. The chances are pretty good >the comments were not intended to be disparaging. I have put my own foot in >my mouth so often in life I can tell my shoes apart by taste. There are >very few groups of people in the world with more in common than birders. We >should recognize the importance and advantages of that fact and stay >focused on the positive aspects of our shared interests. As I said, I think >this is just a misunderstanding among good people. > >Dave > > >----------------------------------------- >CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message contains >information which may be legally confidential and/or privileged and >does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid or offer >relating thereto which binds the sender without an additional >express written confirmation to that effect. The information is >intended solely for the individual or entity named above and access >by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended >recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the >contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If >you have received this electronic transmission in error, please >reply immediately to the sender that you have received the message >in error, and delete it. Thank you. > > >_______________________________________________ >This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) >for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. >For subscription information visit >http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org _________________________________________________________________ See what you’re getting into…before you go there http://newlivehotmail.com/?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_viral_preview_0507

There was no tone in Roy's message. There was no tone in Luke's or Nick's either. They are just trying to assemble the masses of eyes necessary to find great birds. It is not only enjoyable, it is also hard work birding the caost, sorting through masses of sandpipers or gulls or terns ( I hate you Charlie...just kidding) , to find the good one. Misery loves company. They voiced comments all of us have said over the years...a great bird shows up and where are the birders????? We all chase things. We get a report and run off to Stonington to see Fulvous Whistling-Ducks or to Goshen looking for a Hawk Owl, or to New Haven for a Calliope Hummingbird, or to Westport for a Smith's Longspur. It is so much more fun when everyone is doing the finding and not just a hard-working few. Thanks Nick, Roy, Luke, Brian, and others for making my vicarious birding so rewarding. Mark Mark S.Szantyr 80 Bicknell Road Apt. 9 Ashford, CT 06278 USA Birddog55@Charter.net 860-487-9766 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Barriger" <mark8bud8@hotmail.com> To: <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 11:43 PM Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Where are all the birder's >I wasn't going to post a reply to this topic anymore but I am happy and sad > to say that I have 27 personal e-mails in my inbox showing they're > support. > Happy because I know I wasn't the only one to take those comments the > wrong > way but also sad and disappointed to know that regardless of how many > e-mails I have showing support nobody wants to give they're point of view > in > fear of being looked down on. > I guess what really upset me was the comment about chasing birds. In the > past two years I have seen and heard three birders that I look up to from > Connecticut talking negatively about birders who chase rare birds. Is it > wrong to want to chase down these rare birds? What is so wrong with it? Am > I > missing something here? > The point to my e-mail was yes birders are out there. BUT just because we > aren't birding the coast people don't think we are around. Maybe > shorebirds > just aren't everyone's cup of tea. I know several birders who don't bird > the > shore because they don't own a scope. They're still out in the heat every > weekend looking for good birds though. I give Nick, Luke and others much > credit for all the time they put in birding along the coast. In one way I > envy them because I wish I had the time they do to bird but at the same > time > I have two son's (one and three years old) and any free time I have they > get > so my birding is cut in half and I wouldn't trade it for the world. > To close my message I just wanted to make it clear that in no way was > they're any disrespect toward Roy. I realize that he sacrifices plenty of > personal time to make sure an accurate daily report goes out every night. > Many thanks goes out to him BUT does than mean I have to agree with every > note or comment in his report? If he can make a few comment's towards > birders why can't I ? > I didn't post that message this morning to get everyone all upset. I sent > it > out looking for answers. Answers that have yet to be answered. Instead we > took my posting and put a spin on it and instead of answering my questions > we started defending each other and patting our self on the back. > If you think that I am totally wrong in getting upset over all this then > let > me have it. If you agree with me then I would love to hear from you. I'm > not > trying to clutter up the list serve so please feel free to e-mail me > privately. Either way please just read, listen, and try to understand my > point of view. Thanks, > > Mark Barriger > Hamden, CT > > >>From: David.F.Provencher@dom.com >>To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org >>Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Where are all the birder's >>Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 18:50:37 -0400 >> >> >>It's seems to me that offense has been taken where none was intended. The >>people who mentioned they felt few birders were in the field did so >>because >>of their awareness that this is absolutely prime time for shorebird >>rarities. Sometimes when you know that great birds are in the offing you >>expect to see more birders out and about, and sometimes they are... just >>not where you are. In fairness to the posters it must be pointed out that >>the daily reports have indicated relatively few reports are being sent in >>as of late, which could easily be interpreted as fewer people taking to >>the >>field. I have total confidence that Roy meant nothing disparaging in last >>nights daily report. That simply is not something Roy would do. I have the >>privilege of knowing Roy personally as well as a great many of the other >>birders who have contributed to this forum. I realize why some of us felt >>stung by the posts but I am absolutely confident that there is no reason >>for anyone to take umbrage. Simply a misunderstanding among good people. >>As >>a point of fact I have been on the sidelines myself as a result of a >>difficult divorce and having to parent my 9 year old (gladly) during most >>of my free time. I used to be in the field as much or more than anyone and >>when I read last nights post I knew exactly what Roy and the others >>intended to mean by their comments. They are excited and full of hopeful >>expectations which they just wanted to express as a call to the troops so >>to speak. And the fact is this is indeed high season for >>shorebird/shoreline rarities. Also Roy is absolutely right, it does feel >>better to find a rarity yourself, I was lucky enough to do it quite a bit >>in the past and hope to get back to doing it again soon. >> >>I for one highly value the existence of this forum and also highly >>appreciate those who make it possible. I would hope that anyone who feels >>slighted by something that was posted would contact the poster directly to >>discuss it rather than do so in an open forum. The chances are pretty good >>the comments were not intended to be disparaging. I have put my own foot >>in >>my mouth so often in life I can tell my shoes apart by taste. There are >>very few groups of people in the world with more in common than birders. >>We >>should recognize the importance and advantages of that fact and stay >>focused on the positive aspects of our shared interests. As I said, I >>think >>this is just a misunderstanding among good people. >> >>Dave >> >> >>----------------------------------------- >>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message contains >>information which may be legally confidential and/or privileged and >>does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid or offer >>relating thereto which binds the sender without an additional >>express written confirmation to that effect. The information is >>intended solely for the individual or entity named above and access >>by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended >>recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the >>contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If >>you have received this electronic transmission in error, please >>reply immediately to the sender that you have received the message >>in error, and delete it. Thank you. >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) >>for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. >>For subscription information visit >>http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > > _________________________________________________________________ > See what you're getting into.before you go there > http://newlivehotmail.com/?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_viral_preview_0507 > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

And I guess I have one more comment and if you would like to infer tone here, you may. I think we should all be patting ourselves and each other on the back. When I started birding in Connecticut, there were a handful of serious birders. We found very little but we all got to see it thanks to the telephone. Over the past thirty years, our little state has recorded and documented an amazing list of avian wonders. It is due to the hard work of all of us...the bird watchers of Connecticut ( and out of state friends and neighbors ). We have done this in spite of poor communication, birds that don't stay, bogus bird reports resuting in wild goose chases, soaring gas prices and lives changing. Our state is held in high regard by other birding communities in New England and beyond because of all of our hard work. We should be proud. Ok...tone over. Mark Mark S.Szantyr 80 Bicknell Road Apt. 9 Ashford, CT 06278 USA Birddog55@Charter.net 860-487-9766 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Barriger" <mark8bud8@hotmail.com> To: <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 11:43 PM Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Where are all the birder's >I wasn't going to post a reply to this topic anymore but I am happy and sad > to say that I have 27 personal e-mails in my inbox showing they're > support. > Happy because I know I wasn't the only one to take those comments the > wrong > way but also sad and disappointed to know that regardless of how many > e-mails I have showing support nobody wants to give they're point of view > in > fear of being looked down on. > I guess what really upset me was the comment about chasing birds. In the > past two years I have seen and heard three birders that I look up to from > Connecticut talking negatively about birders who chase rare birds. Is it > wrong to want to chase down these rare birds? What is so wrong with it? Am > I > missing something here? > The point to my e-mail was yes birders are out there. BUT just because we > aren't birding the coast people don't think we are around. Maybe > shorebirds > just aren't everyone's cup of tea. I know several birders who don't bird > the > shore because they don't own a scope. They're still out in the heat every > weekend looking for good birds though. I give Nick, Luke and others much > credit for all the time they put in birding along the coast. In one way I > envy them because I wish I had the time they do to bird but at the same > time > I have two son's (one and three years old) and any free time I have they > get > so my birding is cut in half and I wouldn't trade it for the world. > To close my message I just wanted to make it clear that in no way was > they're any disrespect toward Roy. I realize that he sacrifices plenty of > personal time to make sure an accurate daily report goes out every night. > Many thanks goes out to him BUT does than mean I have to agree with every > note or comment in his report? If he can make a few comment's towards > birders why can't I ? > I didn't post that message this morning to get everyone all upset. I sent > it > out looking for answers. Answers that have yet to be answered. Instead we > took my posting and put a spin on it and instead of answering my questions > we started defending each other and patting our self on the back. > If you think that I am totally wrong in getting upset over all this then > let > me have it. If you agree with me then I would love to hear from you. I'm > not > trying to clutter up the list serve so please feel free to e-mail me > privately. Either way please just read, listen, and try to understand my > point of view. Thanks, > > Mark Barriger > Hamden, CT > > >>From: David.F.Provencher@dom.com >>To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org >>Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Where are all the birder's >>Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 18:50:37 -0400 >> >> >>It's seems to me that offense has been taken where none was intended. The >>people who mentioned they felt few birders were in the field did so >>because >>of their awareness that this is absolutely prime time for shorebird >>rarities. Sometimes when you know that great birds are in the offing you >>expect to see more birders out and about, and sometimes they are... just >>not where you are. In fairness to the posters it must be pointed out that >>the daily reports have indicated relatively few reports are being sent in >>as of late, which could easily be interpreted as fewer people taking to >>the >>field. I have total confidence that Roy meant nothing disparaging in last >>nights daily report. That simply is not something Roy would do. I have the >>privilege of knowing Roy personally as well as a great many of the other >>birders who have contributed to this forum. I realize why some of us felt >>stung by the posts but I am absolutely confident that there is no reason >>for anyone to take umbrage. Simply a misunderstanding among good people. >>As >>a point of fact I have been on the sidelines myself as a result of a >>difficult divorce and having to parent my 9 year old (gladly) during most >>of my free time. I used to be in the field as much or more than anyone and >>when I read last nights post I knew exactly what Roy and the others >>intended to mean by their comments. They are excited and full of hopeful >>expectations which they just wanted to express as a call to the troops so >>to speak. And the fact is this is indeed high season for >>shorebird/shoreline rarities. Also Roy is absolutely right, it does feel >>better to find a rarity yourself, I was lucky enough to do it quite a bit >>in the past and hope to get back to doing it again soon. >> >>I for one highly value the existence of this forum and also highly >>appreciate those who make it possible. I would hope that anyone who feels >>slighted by something that was posted would contact the poster directly to >>discuss it rather than do so in an open forum. The chances are pretty good >>the comments were not intended to be disparaging. I have put my own foot >>in >>my mouth so often in life I can tell my shoes apart by taste. There are >>very few groups of people in the world with more in common than birders. >>We >>should recognize the importance and advantages of that fact and stay >>focused on the positive aspects of our shared interests. As I said, I >>think >>this is just a misunderstanding among good people. >> >>Dave >> >> >>----------------------------------------- >>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message contains >>information which may be legally confidential and/or privileged and >>does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid or offer >>relating thereto which binds the sender without an additional >>express written confirmation to that effect. The information is >>intended solely for the individual or entity named above and access >>by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended >>recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the >>contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If >>you have received this electronic transmission in error, please >>reply immediately to the sender that you have received the message >>in error, and delete it. Thank you. >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) >>for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. >>For subscription information visit >>http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > > _________________________________________________________________ > See what you're getting into.before you go there > http://newlivehotmail.com/?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_viral_preview_0507 > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

I don't wish to belabor the issue posted, but I wanted to say again this list has served me very well in making some new friends and hearing about birding 'hot spots', issues nesting birds face, and all the different species being seen in and around CT. I definitely am a birder no matter where I go. Sometimes, it's not the greatest thing as my eyes will wander off when something very unfamiliar is flying over me as I drive by (that's how I picked up my first Peregrine Falcon - flying over the Q Bridge as I was driving - yup, eyes locked on that bird for a few seconds - not good when driving). I learned to carry a notebook in the car to log things I see and my camera and scope are always with me in case I have a chance to stop at places I frequent for birds. If I may make a suggestion - why couldn't folks on this list go about organizing carpooling expeditions? I know some of you do pair up to bird together. Perhaps there might be others interested in doing the same. I know I would if time allowed. I apologize if such programs exist. I am not new to birding, but definitely new to what may already be available. As I mentioned in another post, I'm a tad leery of going to new places alone. Shorebirds are a major problem for me - their coloration makes IDing difficult. I keep trying, but there's nothing like having someone with more knowledge present who can pick up on details I might overlook. It's why I love guided bird tours when I can attend and I get a taste of the good birding spots I can visit on my own when time permits. I do own a good scope - happy to share when in a group - I do haul my camera with me (never know what I might come across - like seeing a common buckeye butterfly for the first time and got a nice photo of for my own records) - and am getting better with my digiscoping efforts. I am one to photo first and ID later as I did with my sighting of the Dickcissel and White-winged Dove that showed up under my feeder in earlier this year. I do enjoy hearing all about the efforts folks on this list put in - the sightings they do make - because it amazes me with the number of unusual sightings that are made - two sightings of which I was happy to report in and make others aware of - and right under my own feeders - and to hear about the ups and downs in populations common to CT. Thank you for this list! Donna Lorello Branford