Pastor Al ;-)
I can totally relate to your communication and I agree that it is
possible to get aggressive (?) feedback on an odd, unique or
unexpected observation. I used to have a thin skin when it came to
posting for fear of getting negative, questioning or terse feedback.
What I have come to know is 1) most of the reaction I have to feedback
is that if it isn't positive or in agreement, I tend to take it as
negative even if it is neutral; 2) most of the feedback I perceived as
not friendly was more a reaction to communication style than actual
negative verbiage; and 3) I learn more from giving it a try and
responding to the feedback than if I just react and stop sharing.
There are thousands of people who are on the list serve and the voice
of the vocal aggressives is a wee wee percentage. (did I just say wee-
wee on a post?) When I begin communicating with the commenters, I
learn - because practically every one with whom I have engaged are
passionate birders who come from their experience. I have had several
unique spottings poo-pooed (did I just say poo-poo in a post) but kept
right on. I learned what it took to confirm a spotting and actually
have some accepted. As more were accepted, the more confidence I got
and the more clear I was on what it took to make a positive ID.
(quite honestly I don't really care if a sighting is accepted or not -
it was my experience, my truth and my reality - but I do want to learn
to be better)
Quite honestly, I am a shaky birder. I make numerous errors in front
of others (mostly because I get so excited to bird with others) and
have trepidation when I post a sighting - and I do it anyway. I have
developed some great email relationships with many list serve birders
whom I have never even seen before. And I have honed my ability to
share important or significant sightings because I boo-boo so often.
(I will never use song as an ID tool - not my strength.)
Bottom line - I am more committed to sharing (even if I am wrong) than
holding back. There is too much to gain in the risk of being
confronted and responding than to react and shut down in my silence.
I did that too many years to want to go back to that.
Thomas Maiello
Angel Environmental Management, Inc.
Maple Grove, MN
On May 19, 2009, at 12:52 PM, Pastor Al Schirmacher wrote:
Yesterday I spoke with a birder who had a unique sighting. This
birder took substantial notes and is relatively certain about the
bird they saw.
However, the sighting will not be shared.
It won't be documented because it would constitute a first state
record and the perception is, without photos, it would never be
accepted.
It won't be posted to the net because the perception is that people
will judge and negatively verbalize about the sighting.
Over the last week I've been together with 30+ birders on my birding
vacation and the MOU field trip. Discussion item #1 was, of course,
birds seen & heard. Discussion item #2 - on multiple occasions (I
initiated none of these discussions, many times simply listened) -
was the perception that the MN birding community is often not
friendly, and that posting unusual birds was a very risky
proposition. A couple of birders mentioned that they've only posted
once and never would again. There is also a perception of elitism
and an "old boys club", that only "name" birders records are
accepted, formally and informally.
Sad.
I'm not saying each of these accusations are true. In one sense it
really doesn't matter whether the unfriendliness is perception or
reality, whether it's a majority or minority or even a very few
birders. The perception is driving behavior. And the behavior is
not sharing sightings, which impacts us all.
The perception needs to be changed. Minnesota birders, on and off
MOU, need to be perceived as and/or become friendly, helpful,
welcoming. Newbies need to be encouraged, publicly and privately.
Back channel emails need to be thought through carefully. Comments
in the field need to show restraint.
I know it can happen, having come from a state where the
organization & listserv were generally perceived positively.
By the way, I am not the birder involved, just concerned about the
impact (you know me, I share and let chips fall where they may).
And I am extremely thankful for all who have shared and do share -
both in MOU and outside - there are many excellent, friendly birders
in this state!
Good birding to all.
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
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