Re: Another Soapbox Message

David Gersten (gerstens@erols.com)
Wed, 23 Sep 1998 12:03:58 -0400 

Mike you couldn't possibly have had a MacGillivray's Warbler on Saturday.
Don't you know it's a western bird.  It's not like we've had any western
birds show up here in the Mid-Atlantic lately.  (CINNAMON TEAL, SELASPHORUS
hummingbird, WESTERN TANAGER, WILSON'S WARBLER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER,
LARK SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, PACIFIC LOON, WESTERN GREBE, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER,
etc...)  Last fall we didn't have any either :-)  (They were all at Cape
May!)  

Also, didn't you know that the hoteline is not a place for questions?
("There were no subsequent reports of this bird, and a species this rare on
the East Coast, especially in the spring, would need further sightings to
be confirmed." -- VOICE 5/19/98)

In all seriousness, Jane and Steve do a great job compiling the report each
week.  What we probably have here is just poor communication.

BTW, I have seen a MacGillivray's Warbler in the area before.  September
14, 1992 at Loch Raven Reservior.  I wasn't with anyone and I had just
started attending Baltimore MOS meetings so I didn't report it.  I should
have.

Keep sending those reports to this list.  This Saturday I plan on making a
trip to Wakefield.  See you there.
__________________
David Gersten
gerstens@erols.com
Herndon, VA


07:14 PM 9/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
>
>Greg's and Tyler's posts have struck a nerve. So let me put 
>out a "soapbox message" of my own.
>
>It's important to be skeptical about rare bird reports, but
>there are times when arrogance comes into play. I've had a
>few experiences of the skeptical kind lately regarding my 
>reports from Wakefield Park. I don't mind skepticism because
>it's an important part of the process of verifying reports
>as much as possible. I actually expected it because I couldn't 
>believe some of the birds that kept showing up. I had hoped 
>that the skeptics would go silent after other birders who 
>were attracted to Wakefield Park by my reports saw Sedge Wren 
>and Connecticut, Mourning, and Brewster's Warblers. But then I 
>saw a MacGillivray's Warbler on Saturday. Having recently 
>experienced skepticism, I was extremely reluctant to report 
>this bird. But I did and my report to the hotline was completely 
>ignored. You'd think it would have at least warranted a few 
>questions. 
>
>How many other reports of MacGillivray's Warblers in this area 
>have been squelched? I'll bet a fair number of them find their 
>way to the east coast every year. Good numbers of Mourning and 
>Connecticut Warblers stray far to the west of their ranges. 
>About 80 of them have been observed at just one site in California.
>Why wouldn't one expect similar numbers of MacGillivray's Warblers 
>in the east? And if one were to show up, wouldn't Wakefield
>Park--which has had 9 Mourning Warblers and 5 Connecticut Warblers 
>this year--be a reasonable place? 
>
>To end on a positive note, I'd like to add that it's been a lot 
>of fun meeting those of you who have stopped by to check out
>Wakefield Park. Hopefully we'll get another front and more good
>birds in the next few days.  
>
>Mike Collins
>Annandale, Virginia
>collins@ram.nrl.navy.mil
>