Alastair – says this
should be shared, while withholding complete endorsement ...
From: Alastair Smith
[
Sent: Wednesday, 5 December 2007 5:07 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] 'Blue-faced' Fig Parrot
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Wednesday, 5 December 2007 9:01 AM
To: 'Alastair Smith'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] 'Blue-faced' Fig Parrot
Dear Alastair,
I wonder if I could count on
your support. You might not believe this, but ...
From: Alastair Smith
[
Sent: Tuesday, 4 December 2007 5:55 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] 'Blue-faced' Fig Parrot
I posted this to Birding-aus yesterday. Please excuse the
cross posting.
Earlier this year there was much controversy and debate
on Birding-aus following the announcement that John Young had found a
'blue-faced' Fig Parrot. The accompanying photograph was denounced by experts
as likely to have been altered in some way and there was much made when John's
fellow collaborators distanced themselves from the finding. At the time I
wondered why a respected naturalist would commit professional suicide by
announcing a discovery that looked like it could not be authenticated. Offline,
I discussed this very issue with some of those who were most strident in their
criticism. I had reason for asking as I had just signed up to a Cape York tour
with John.
That tour concluded in Cairns on Saturday and during the
trip John showed us about 15 photographs of the parrots. I asked about the
questionable photograph and John replied that it was purposely only 35kb in
size which is why it looked decidedly unconvincing when blown up. John zoomed
the photographs he showed us to about 500% and the feather patterns and colour
remained convincing. He has his reasons for not answering his critics but
in time I am completely convinced that John will be vindicated. Of course we
will all have to wait for the publication of the data in a respected
ornithological/scientific journal. Indeed John left us to return to the area of
the finding where the birds are said to be nesting, in order to film the birds
in high definition.
I had not met John before the Cape York trip, but having
spent two weeks with him I have unqualified respect for him as a person. I
admire his abilities as an amateur ornithologist, particularly his determination
in staying as long as necessary to find an elusive quarry and finally his
infectious love for Australia's avifauna.
Regards
Alastair
