While the compilation of data from observation may be useful in studying the
behavior of birders, the very behavior being studied may be a consequence of
the ways in which data is used. The shift toward chasing rarities may not
relate to changes in human motivation or culture. Rather, I suspect it is a
direct result of better access to data, namely the rapid reporting and
retrieval of birding information due to the proliferation of smart phones and
use of list serves.
On a personal note, I have always been appreciative of the welcoming nature of
the birding community and its generosity in sharing information and advice. In
fact, both Shai and Andrew have been amongst the most giving in this regard,
for which the community is certainly grateful. Nevertheless, while I can
understand how frustration can evoke negative feelings, a public broadcasting
of disappointment with the behavior of a generous community is more apt to
elicit resentment than a positive result. Public encouragement works better
than criticism, for family members, fellow birders, and possibly even for
photographers. (Though perhaps not for cat lovers.)
Happy summer birding,
Peter
On Saturday, August 1, 2015 7:52 AM, Shaibal Mitra
<shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu> wrote:
Thanks to everyone who shared information about the appearance of juv Laughing
Gulls along the LI shore this summer. It sounds as though they appeared
relatively late but, as is sometimes the case, simultaneously in widely
scattered places. Confirmation of a new breeding site on the island will
probably have to wait until another year (I believe all the "confirmed" blocks
east of Jamaica Bay in the Atlas represent flying juvs).
It's interesting to me that almost all the info about Laughing Gulls, which is
what I asked for in my post, was offered privately, whereas it was my rather
secondary--and mild--expression of disappointment about community effort
patterns that garnered public discussion. In giving serious thought to the
various points that were raised, including my own, the only general theme I can
discern that is worth pursuing is the question of whether or not birding itself
can be studied, in a manner similar to how we study egrets and Laughing Gulls.
I believe that it can, and I've scrupulously recorded data regarding the
birders I've encountered in the field over the past 35 years in an effort to
document their patterns of abundance, distribution, and behavior--and to look
for changes or trends in these things.
And what's wrong with that? It's very likely that Andrew could marshall data to
support his hypothesis about a shift toward alerts-oriented effort; Dave could
well be drawing on a deep body of background knowledge when he criticizes my
inability to identify egrets and report them in a satisfactory manner; and Arie
might be right that his birding and reporting practices, including his chase
and followup of the Little Egret, have been meritorious. My statement that the
overall egret-chasing effort collapsed prematurely back on 22 May is not a
personal attack on any particular person; it is a conclusion based on a large
body of observations.
It's the information age--the data are out there!
Shai Mitra
Bay Shore
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