I've been having a private discussion with a couple of people, and
maybe it would be okay to mention this topic here, if only for a moment.
Assuming the Swallow-tailed Kite passes records committee review,
here is a suggestion for listers. In my opinion, the kite should be
put on the "personally found" list for any participant in the Otter
Creek Marsh field trip who has such a list. And in general, when a
bird is found in a group setting, all members of the group are
justified in sharing in the finding.
In this particular case, I was present when the kite first appeared.
Almost simultaneously, one person said, "What is that?", another two
shouted "Swallow-tailed Kite!", and several others were already
looking in that direction with stunned, puzzled expressions on their
faces. And this is usually how it goes - the multitude of eyes
improves the quality of bird finding and blurs the idea of credit.
So, in my opinion, in a group setting, all people present shared in
the experience, and all should count the birds on their respective lists.
Paul Hertzel
Mason City
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