Bob, I understand what you mean, with those people jogging, socializing, talking on their cell phones, etc. My former co-workers at the golf resort go camping, or at least that's what they call it. They tow their 5th-wheel trailer to a campground and live in, with air conditioning, satellite TV and DVDs, microwaves, etc. They even camp like this at campgrounds in the Pine Barrens. But they don't know anything at all about nature (I mean nothing!), and don't care, and have no desire to learn. I don't get it at all. To me, camping is in a tent. Then you go hiking and you enjoy nature. I enjoy trees, no matter what their size or shape. I love the wildflowers, and enjoy hunting for rare plants. I love lichen and moss, and I enjoy mushrooms and other fungus. I love the insects and the birds such as Turkey Vultures and hawks. I love the deer and other animals too. There's more, but I can't remember right now. I need to go up to the farm in a few minutes. Barry
--- On Sat, 11/28/09, Bob <[email protected]> wrote: From: Bob <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [ENTS] Observing nature... To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 8:27 PM Steve I understand where you are coming from, but today in Arnold Arboretum I would actually have been thrilled to see some birders. The people I saw walking the trails were completely tuned out to any form of nature. No tree awareness evident. They were there to walk their dogs, jog, power walk, socialize, stroll while yapping on cell phones, etc. The fact that it is an Arboretum was completely lost on them. Frustrating as heck! Bob Sent from my iPhone On Nov 28, 2009, at 10:58 PM, Steve Galehouse <[email protected]> wrote: ENTS- Today my oldest son and I returned to the Cuyahoga Valley to investigate some sites for potential reports. We didn't spend much time measuring, rather just hiked to explore unfamiliar areas(did measure a white ash to 132', and a sycamore to 13' 10'' cbh and 113'). The neatest thing we observed was a snowy owl, perched in a tree in an area of larger trees. It's very unusual for one to be in Ohio, but my trusty Peterson's guide says it can happen---which brings me to the primary question of this post: Why are more people, generally, interested in birding than observing and measuring trees? I think we all can attest that on a trail we would more likely encounter a birder with a $800-$1200 Zeiss binocular around the neck than a tree measurer with a $200 Nikon rangefinder and $100 inclinometer. I'm in no way anti-birding, but knowing the woods seems so much more basic--the types of trees determine the species of birds and mammals present. The avian-centric position seems to be expressed in the promotional literature of park systems also, where rare or unusual species of birds present are stressed, without mention of the forest community that attracted them. And Jenny, this in no way is meant to disparage your rescue efforts in NYC. Steve -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
