Good on you, Lloyd. And good on John.
Tony Ashton
On Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 7:57 PM, Andy Burton <> wrote:
>
> Well said, Lloyd.
>
> Andy
>
> On 14/10/2013, at 7:38 PM, Lloyd Nielsen <>
> wrote:
>
> > Someone asked for the truth in this matter so please read below. I
> should add that I have known John for about 30 years, have worked with him
> on many occasions and regard him as a close friend.
> >
> > John finally got the photos of the Night Parrot with the help of a
> birding friend who has accompanied him on many of the trips (and who also
> saw the parrot during that time). After the night of photography and some
> sleep was had, they packed up and headed for home - a 15 hour drive. As
> soon as John got within mobile range, he phoned me to say "We got it!" He
> was so excited that he could hardly get the words out. They arrived back in
> Cairns late that night. Next morning around 9.00 am John arrived up here at
> my place and we sat at my kitchen table and spent a couple of hours going
> through about 50 or so of the best photos as well as the video. I was the
> first to see them. I had already heard much of the sound that John had got
> on previous visits but we went through some of that again. Over previous
> years, I spent time with him out at some of the sites where he has been
> looking for the parrot, including the one where he finally got the photos.
> I have not been fortunate enough
> to see the bird myself but know the exact site where he photographed it
> - in fact the very spinifex bush the bird disappeared under!
> >
> > As far as John altering the photo digitally is concerned, all he did was
> to take a small spinifex twig off the birds back which was spoiling the
> photo. I have just spoken to him again and he assures me adamantly that
> before he sent the photo that is all he did (not that I needed that
> assurance). The photo (a jpg!) was not for scientific consumption but for
> PUBLIC consumption! What is the drama over that? Some people seem to have
> problems differentiating between the two - just read the debate on Bird
> Forum. It is something which happens a million times a day in the
> publishing world. There are another hundred plus original Raw files which
> will be available for publication at a later date with a scientific paper
> if needed.
> >
> > I really can't believe some of the comments and doubting from some
> people which has made its way onto Birding-aus!! John Young is one of the
> most remarkable and talented field ornithologists Australia has ever seen
> and yet there are people out there (mostly those who have never met him)
> who still try to put him down at every opportunity.
> >
> > And as far as the "debate" on the Bird Forum website is concerned, after
> reading a few of those postings, I quickly hit the delete button - I have
> better things to do than to waste time reading discussion such as that
> which at times denigrates Australian birding and birders, with some
> bordering on defamation. Why don't these people take some notice of the
> Aussies? A few noted Australian ornithologists made an attempt to convince
> them that the sighting and photographs were genuine but that seemed to be
> ignored but a number of contributors.
> >
> > Finally, a message to the doubters and knockers - for goodness sake, go
> take a cold shower and give the man a break!! Recognise his ability, what
> he has achieved and what he is doing. Allow him to make more data available
> in his own good time. He is already working on the parrot and its welfare
> (voluntarily with no financial remuneration) with others including some
> from the scientific community. The object of this is to determine the
> status of the bird etc etc, trying to locate it in other areas, to
> determine the best ways to protect the bird, AND ways in which others might
> see it without endangering the species. You are not helping either the
> cause (especially when and if funds need to be raised at some time), the
> future of the Night Parrot or the chance for others to see it!
> >
> > And for those people asking (almost demanding) him to divulge all that
> he has gained, discovered and learned so far - does one immediately write a
> paper at first encounter with a species? He has already conducted a public
> forum at his own expense for the benefit of birders. Just remember this -
> John derives a living from consultancy etc. in the natural history field
> (he does not have a highly paid government or other job) and the quest for
> the Night Parrot has already cost him more than 6 figures of his own money
> as well as thousands of hours in the field for which he has received very
> little remuneration to date. Are these people going to contribute to some
> form of remuneration. Give the man a break!
> >
> > Lloyd Nielsen,
> >
> > Mt Molloy, Nth Qld
> >
> > www.birdingaustralia.com.au
> >
> >
> >
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> > ===============================
>
> Andy Burton
>
> 0431 550 105
> 9416 2636
>
>
>
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