tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post4251706627224522001..comments2023-10-31T05:14:06.482-07:00Comments on Bourbon, Bastards, and Birds.: HBP Presents: The Handicaps Of BirdingSeagull Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-90201384956965843942016-05-29T15:31:15.038-07:002016-05-29T15:31:15.038-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.MARRY HANSON https://www.blogger.com/profile/18093602552308086950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-82367763838686047762016-03-31T14:50:14.897-07:002016-03-31T14:50:14.897-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Barbara Macellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12729083067136061589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-13930760664098767522015-11-26T13:33:12.466-08:002015-11-26T13:33:12.466-08:00I loved this article. I really did, because it is...I loved this article. I really did, because it is dead on. However, like an accidental bird, there is an accidental bird watcher. I am one of those. I am not rich, but I am not poor. I am not white, but I am not black. I am Latina, and I am not cool, but I am not nerdy. I was a Therapist, and now I am a teacher. I have a Science Club and I teach Birding and Photography to my students. They don't need to travel to see awesome birds because we live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is the bottle neck of the Central Flyway. We are blessed. People from all over the world come here to see our birds. I feel blessed and grateful to be an ambassador educating kids from a Title One school...meaning they come from meager backgrounds, with gangs all around them. Yet, they can name a bird. I will give them a gang to join, even if they are not rich or white! Any help we can get would be deeply appreciated, since you are all rich! hahaha. My name is Marie Montalvo M.Ed. and my schools name is Sullivan Elementary School 900 Elizabeth Street San Benito, Texas. WE NEED A CLASS SET OF CAMERAS!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-87612886668150393692015-11-10T13:04:18.772-08:002015-11-10T13:04:18.772-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-28155229220998121362012-03-05T19:14:26.201-08:002012-03-05T19:14:26.201-08:00I've always been interested in birds. In my te...I've always been interested in birds. In my teens I was in the closet over it. It was the Jane Hathaway Effect. Remember her? On the Beverley Hillbillies? Ya, I did NOT want to be perceived that way!Mossybackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08885538037668637949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-14256290738956387462012-03-05T00:20:27.093-08:002012-03-05T00:20:27.093-08:00Yes, the weirdness never ends. These people (we pe...Yes, the weirdness never ends. These people (we people) are bizarre. <br /><br />Sparrows actually aren't too bad after a while...<br /><br />Nice profile name, btw.Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-10492937505241702952012-03-03T18:31:39.407-08:002012-03-03T18:31:39.407-08:00Thanks for the post, Steve. (First-time commenter,...Thanks for the post, Steve. (First-time commenter, long-time reader.) I started birdwatching a couple years ago (in my mid-30s) because it's cheaper than therapy. <br />My conversion experience was seeing the warbler migration on the s. side of Lake Erie in May. And you're right, being a new birder is indeed daunting. (Effing sparrows). I am still the worst.<br />And the key part of #5 is "apathy about the life around us" and didn't require any defense: there's no denying that one end of the political spectrum is far more likely to focus on the virtues of the individual or Business over the natural or public.<br />Anyway, thanks for these cultural pieces. It's a weird scene out there, especially for someone new.TheIneptBirdernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-16021698124040412432012-03-02T12:32:43.331-08:002012-03-02T12:32:43.331-08:00Damn auto correct. *herpersDamn auto correct. *herpersJKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16614141904786915153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-63753509434997030612012-03-02T12:31:43.662-08:002012-03-02T12:31:43.662-08:00Who am I kidding. Herpes are also nerds. But nerd ...Who am I kidding. Herpes are also nerds. But nerd Internet flame wars are fun!JKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16614141904786915153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-39724280066668432862012-03-01T14:02:19.478-08:002012-03-01T14:02:19.478-08:00I think that's one of the (many) appeals...a b...I think that's one of the (many) appeals...a bird won't judge what you look like....and if they do, it would be hard to figure that out.Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-66064741049049812652012-03-01T14:01:06.854-08:002012-03-01T14:01:06.854-08:00Yes, I agree completely, and I've always wonde...Yes, I agree completely, and I've always wondered why Nixon did that.Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-20598419200021080302012-03-01T13:59:16.851-08:002012-03-01T13:59:16.851-08:00@The Rev - You are the perpetual optimist. Don'...@The Rev - You are the perpetual optimist. Don't pretend you don't know what I mean!<br /><br />@JK - I don't know that many herp people, but it's quite likely they are cooler. But when it comes to night work, I have spent so many hours crashing through the underbrush (as a bird biologist, not a birder) that it makes me sick just thinking about it. Of course, you don't have to worry about owls attacking you...Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-64418564793456136112012-03-01T12:24:01.256-08:002012-03-01T12:24:01.256-08:00No, just things that could kill you like rattlesna...No, just things that could kill you like rattlesnakes and pit vipers at 2AM.<br /><br />Although, happy to stop for an owl in the middle of the night if we see one.JKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16614141904786915153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-89618593291159384752012-03-01T08:05:05.764-08:002012-03-01T08:05:05.764-08:00Psht late nights. I don't see you all staking ...Psht late nights. I don't see you all staking out Owls...Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-37126241357266083102012-03-01T01:12:49.892-08:002012-03-01T01:12:49.892-08:00Sorry Rev but you are not as cool as you think. Th...Sorry Rev but you are not as cool as you think. The herpers are obviously way cooler. Not even close. Way more booze, way more loose women (or men, despite our machoness we don't judge) and way more late nights.JKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16614141904786915153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-8964160083421760002012-02-29T18:57:45.004-08:002012-02-29T18:57:45.004-08:00We're cool, what do you mean. Nerdy? It'...We're cool, what do you mean. Nerdy? It's the pocket protector in the pocket, not the pen, that's nerdy. The better word for the hobby might be technical. Within the wildlife profession which is cool by definition, (who wouldn't want my job) the birders are often the coolest, most die-hard, skilled or best observers of the bunch. Sadly though the birding revolution in the US is on slowburn. I was just in the UK and the birder ratio was about 10 times higher. Admittedly I was at bird sites that had reported rarities, but it was scopes to the boardwalk, hides filled, and nice cup of tea back at the rather deluxe refuge HQ/Visitor Center. "Esse est percipi" to be is to be perceived<br />(G. Berkley) yes I bird and I think I'm cool.the revhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01249794170829103251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-55594614402611877362012-02-29T17:45:09.376-08:002012-02-29T17:45:09.376-08:00Here's to that. And as another add-on that coo...Here's to that. And as another add-on that cooperation is possible, I'll add that it was Richard Nixon (R), grumpiest and orneriest of presidents (and thus, obviously, my favorite president) who signed the Endangered Species Act, along with Clean Air Act, into effect.<br /><br />But to clarify, in the same way that no one is saying, "Destroy the Recyclers!" I don't think that the Repubs are targeting the environment as an enemy. No no, they only do that with countries on the other side of the world that are too poor to refine their own petroleum. Rather they've got skewed priorities for economic development, the direct consequence of which is the degradation of natural habitats. What's really distressing is the lack of concern afterwards, but then there are many many things in the government giving me stress these days...Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-81451336464939895432012-02-29T16:33:24.078-08:002012-02-29T16:33:24.078-08:00I can see the age thing. When I was in my 20's...I can see the age thing. When I was in my 20's and 30's all I wanted to do was party, sleep in and go see movies and shop. As people get older and they become empty nesters, they look for a new hobby. I never had the time to bird before. And I can see the urban thing. I lived in the city of Atlanta for years and would have sworn I never saw a single bird. Now I notice hawks everywhere when I go there to visit. Is that why they named the basketball team the "Hawks"? Duh.<br /><br /> <br /><br />I love being able to go out and look like a nerd. (At least out in the woods).Dina Jhttp://dinascitywildlife.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-3338937667780520032012-02-29T16:08:21.854-08:002012-02-29T16:08:21.854-08:00I don't honestly know about the number of scho...I don't honestly know about the number of schools...I think they are required by law to teach it, so it's hard to say how much it's being done. It has been a constant theme in the media for the past several years...anyways, I included that tidbit it in there mostly as an example. <br /><br />What I said was that Republican LAWMAKERS, not your average citizens, are the people happy about this. It's not a matter of debate that it is the Republicans, more than any other party, that are constantly attempting to pass legislation to weaken the endangered species act, weaken air and water pollution laws, open up new oil drilling areas, prevent wilderness areas from being created, make our public land more accessible to mining and logging...the list doesn't end. In the face of this sort of thing I am more than happy to put off grumpy old farts, particularly if they are unhappy with straightforward facts. There is a very recent analysis done on this at http://www.lcv.org/scorecard/scorecardweb.pdf that illustrates all of this clearly.<br /><br />Right. But positivity is crucial! Birders in politics can do great things...the gigantic marine sanctuary created around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands seemed kind of random, considering Dubya did it...it turns out Laura Bush, a lifelong birder, had visited the area for a bit and a few years later PRESTO! A new refuge. Cheney was against it, but I guess it's hard to say no to your wife, hehe.Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-56475076270825359002012-02-29T13:07:27.078-08:002012-02-29T13:07:27.078-08:00Are there really that many schools that don't ...Are there really that many schools that don't teach evolution? I mean, you could say that even 1 is too many, but it can't be a very big number overall. Anyhow, I think berating our lack of greenness (not that that's what you were doing) is not very helpful in producing better results, and it likewise can actually distract us from focussing and expanding on what good is being done.<br /><br />I wish it were so simple as sharing information, sharing facts, etc. So knowing about a politician's voting record is one thing, and saying that people being ignorant of the environment makes Republicans happy is another. If I were a grumpy, well-off old fart (the sort of people whose financial support the birding/conservation community needs), I would've scoffed and switched over to reading the National Review Online (or whatever, you get the idea). But hey that's my two cents, and two cents is all I've got. (and even less sense).Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-2983855085103020342012-02-29T12:58:32.097-08:002012-02-29T12:58:32.097-08:00Certainly their are the devoted and more vocal par...Certainly their are the devoted and more vocal participants. But I've been continually surprised how dedicated the soccer moms and upper middle class types are with their recycling and organic produce. I do not think it's exactly genuine, or at least informed. For example, that doesn't stop them from carting around in their massive SUVs. They like it to the extent it makes them feel good and clean but doesn't cost them a lot.<br /><br />I'm not saying that is good, but it does mean those sorts of people can be easily alienated by overly demanding accusations or entreaties. I just think more subtlety is required if we want to successfully outreach.Laurence Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766876797454283812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-39282679285255938092012-02-29T11:54:48.326-08:002012-02-29T11:54:48.326-08:00Thanks Kari! That sentence is all too true...Thanks Kari! That sentence is all too true...Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-69684592975945763842012-02-29T11:54:21.849-08:002012-02-29T11:54:21.849-08:00Cape May is definitely on my list of places to go....Cape May is definitely on my list of places to go. There aren't many new species I could pick up there....but it would be sick. SICK.Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-48558524959923605482012-02-29T11:51:56.879-08:002012-02-29T11:51:56.879-08:00Compared to a lot of countries, yes there are plen...Compared to a lot of countries, yes there are plenty of us who do care about greeniness, and I think as time goes on more and more people feel the same way. That said, if you take a look at how many schools do not want to teach evolution and how many climate change deniers there are in office...well, we don't look so great.<br /><br />It's true, blathering about politics can even put off those who agree with you, but at the same time you are sharing information with people, which is never a bad thing to do. If, for example, my representative voted to trash the Endangered Species Act, that's something I would want to know about.Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172285466289881050.post-1917058111355917472012-02-29T11:39:54.324-08:002012-02-29T11:39:54.324-08:00Yeah...No one is out there saying "FUCK RECYC...Yeah...No one is out there saying "FUCK RECYCLING! NEVER AGAIN!".Seagull Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851438505719552645noreply@blogger.com