Re: [Maine-birds] Birders' fashion choices in these odd times:

Dear Sean,

To gain some perspective on birding while black, perhaps you should read this:   Orion Magazine | 9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher
https://orionmagazine.org/article/9-rules-for-the-black-birdwatcher/ 

It's written by an ornithologist at Clemson.

Btw, MLK's words were of equality.

Happy MLK Day.

Lynn Havsall

On Monday, January 18, 2021, Sean S <therefromhere168@gmail.com> wrote:

Here's the actual article, since you didn't provide one, or any context whatsoever:

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/birders-in-camo-mistaken-for-terrorists-in-gorham/article_0420b266-55da-11eb-968c-cbbf3212ad41.html

Do these people look at all like terrorists?  No, they look like a typically motley group of birders, and only 4 of the 14 shown in the photo are wearing camo, although a couple of them have camouflage patterned spotting scopes, which I'm sure quite a few people on this list own themselves. 

If they were Black folks would they look like terrorists?   No, and I don't see how race even enters into this discussion.

Were any of these birders burning down local businesses or destroying property?   No.  In fact, they were probably contributing to the local economy, as the writer of the article mentions.  They were not cited or even asked to disperse, or change their attire.

Were the birds actually Cedar Waxwings eating crabapples, which you snarkily reference a "apparently  a big deal because it's most unusual"?   No.  They were Bohemian Waxwings, which most of us consider to be a good sighting.

While as a choice I don't wear camo to bird, I certainly wouldn't be changing my apparel habits to appease the sole loony in town who felt compelled to make an issue out of a non-issue.  Context is very necessary to this article, as it seems to escape even its author: Gorham, NH is in a fairly remote wilderness area, where, due to hunting, camo is as common as LL Bean polo shirts are in Freeport.

Enough of the racial divisiveness being pushed as political correctness!   Especially on Martin Luther King Day.   Dr. King's message was one of unity, not stoking division.  Don't believe me?   Read his words.

Sean Smith

On Sun, Jan 17, 2021 at 4:20 PM Charles Duncan <charles.d.duncan@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

Wanted to share this note from a non-birder friend in NH, and suggest that we all think perhaps a little more than usual about what we wear in the field in the coming days:

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There's a news story today about a bunch of birdwatchers traveling to Gorham NH to see cedar waxwings eating crabapples—apparently a big deal because it's most unusual. So this made the news because many of the birders were wearing camo duds & a local feared that they might be domestic terrorists which does seem a stretch but, nonetheless, do they really need to be dressed in camouflage? Guess a forestry employee, who's also a birder, asked the group to not dress in camo when they are in  town. Guess we are all a bit on edge these days...

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