Re: [Maine-birds] Store/Winterport TWO

I've been lucky enough, usually through work, to get to bird on a number of refuges and other public lands that were closed to the public. In all cases, I asked the listserv if they wanted to hear about unusual and rare birds I found that were not chaseable, and the answer was always yes. I'd rather hear about a rare birds, and vicariously experience it even if I can't go see it, then not ever know it was there. And I agree that being gracious about people who open up their homes and property to birders, and understanding to those who choose not to, is not only the right thing to do, but good for relations with future landowners who may discover a rare bird, and decide whether to allow access to the bird based on how they've heard about others birders acting. This is a public list, so anyone can access the conversations here, birders and nonbirder alike.

Also, on a bird related note, the two Greater White-fronted Geese at the Saco Yacht Club continued this morning, along with the Nashville and Orange-crowned Warbler (though I never found the Orange-crowned myself). Other notables was a Winter Wren, 6 or so Eastern Bluebirds and a flyover White-winged Crossbill a bit further down the river at the public boat launch on Pool st.

David Rankin

Biddeford, ME

On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 10:22 AM, Janet Galle <Janetgalle@gwi.net> wrote:

This spring I had a summer tanager at our farm. Peter Vickery photographed the bird and we posted the information.
I thought it was important, one reason alone being that others will be on the alert.
 But we live on a large farm; we have dogs, the road is gated so sheep and cows do
not escape, and in this day, bio-security is always a concern for organic farmers/all farmers.
Birders on this list-serve who asked to come were kind and generous
when I explained why the land was closed. Sometimes there are very unusual reasons why a landowner does
not open up the property while at the same time wanting a record of unusual sightings.

Janet

On Dec 6, 2012, at 9:29 AM, Kristen Lindquist wrote:

> Sorry, I have to chime in here, as well. The ethics of watching birds,
> rare or otherwise, is something that should *always* be relevant as a
> topic on this list-serv. Respect for private property--around feeders,
> someone's yard, a back field, anywhere--should always be in our minds
> when we are out in the field.
>
> I have personally witnessed situations in which birders' lack of
> respect for landowners' wishes led to not only very bad public
> relations (and termination of the ability of anyone to see the bird)
> but also endangerment of the bird itself. If being reminded of these
> ethical considerations is considered "preaching," than I can't think
> of a more appropriate pulpit than this list-serv, to be honest,
> because we're the ones out there doing the observing, while also
> representing the larger birding community in Maine.
>
> Kristen
>
> On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 8:09 AM, Store <freeportwildbird@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> May I respectfully ask how access to rarities - both current and future - at
>> feeders is not directly relevant to birds (and sighting thereof)?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Derek
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Dec 6, 2012, at 8:07 AM, Robin R Robinson <rrrobinson2010@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> What "gets my goat" is when the list serve is used as a platform for
>> preaching rather than sightings and matters not directly related to birds.
>>
>> Robin R Robinson
>> Birding The Burg. My door is always open to any of you.
>>
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>
>
> --
> Kristen Lindquist
> 12 Mount Battie St.
> Camden, ME 04843
> www.klindquist.blogspot.com
>
> "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
> --Mary Oliver
>
> "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
> --HH the Dalai Lama
>
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David Rankin

University of New England

Graduate Student

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