Many of you never logged onto The Osprey's Nest during it's 10-year tenure here in Colesville so you may not understand my philosophy regarding messages, chit-chat, friendly exchanges, etc., etc. Perhaps some messages posted here are more of a personal nature than many of us wish to read, granted. Better that than a list where people are afraid to post anything but dry, stilted bird reports. Yes, the birds are important, but, from my perspective anyway, the birders are equally as important. One person writes: "there seems to be MANY messages posted on mdosprey that are really personal messages to one or two people..." Another writes: "Way too many posts are ones of a totally personal nature and have nothing whatsoever to do with benefit to the group as a whole..." My initial reaction to these posts was anger, but it's counter- productive to react that way. Rather, I just hope to convince all of you that maybe a less formal, more personable, earthy approach can work out just fine. I want NO SENSE WHATSOEVER here that this list is constrained or edited or censored or in any other way controlled. I don't want a single user to be afraid, ever, to post to the list, afraid of ridicule, harassment, whatever. If that means that too many e-mails are generated for your taste, then I'll understand your decision to sign off the list. I hope, quite honestly, that we don't lose any subscribers over this silliness. If you do decide to leave the list, I ask that you do it gently...flame wars are no good to anyone. Good birding, all! Norm =============== Norm Saunders Colesville, MD osprey@ari.net