Re: American version of Wingspan

[Barbara Passmore <>]

Hello, Birding-Aus:

As a member of American Birding Association (ABA), I would like to make a couple of comments.

Patrice Maher is correct in saying that ABA does not publish Bird Watcher's Digest nor any other magazine except the outstanding publication, Birding.  The quality of that journal is directly attributable to Paul Lehman, who was for several years the Editor-in-chief. Paul Lehman has received no criticism from anyone except the money-maker leadership of ABA which has adopted a "dumbing down" approach to its contents with which Paul Lehman disagreed and got fired for refusing to acquiesce to the dilution process.

The contents of Birding up through the December issue will be due to the efforts of Paul Lehman.  After that, who knows where the birds will go?  There has been much criticism of the leadership for making this change, but unfortunately, the organization's leaders, without the support of many of its writers and its vocal membership, has chosen to take the same path that has brought National Audubon Society almost to its knees through its loss of focus.  As some one so aptly said of Audubon, "While we were sleeping...," control of the organization has been lost to those to whom the quality of Birding is secondary to adding new members at any cost.  Anyone interested in the protest to this action can find much information (including many protests on BirdChat) at:
http://www.princeton.edu/~llarson/up/ABAindex.html

We have a number of wonderful organizations in the United States whose focus is on conservation.  Many of us support those organizations and desire to leave Birding to the birds! 



Barbara Passmore * Valdosta GA USA *  * ICQ # 2542385

_________________________________________________________________
At 10:57 PM 10/16/97 +0000,  (Australian Ornithological Services P.L.)  wrote:
>Bob/John
>I would be the last to admit I'm wrong but the American Birding Association
>publish a quality bimonthly journal called 'Birding',it is unlikely they
>also publish Bird Watcher's Digest. 'Birding' will soon  have a new editor
>after the departure of Paul Lehman who rightly or wrongly attracted a good
>deal of criticism for the perceived direction he was taking the
>publication.
>
>The August 97 issue of 'Birding' listed 18 Birding Web addresses plus some
>weather and butterfly Web addresses- mostly North American generated and an
>anecdotal piece by a newly married man who was delighted that he and his
>wedding party, minus bride, were able to achieve a Wedding Day List of 68
>species.
>
>The ABA Web site is at http://www.americanbirding.org.
>
>Regards
>
>Patricia M Maher
>
>