Philip:
Your response to the "white-faced heron question" is interesting reading.
But, I am taken back a little by your remark "we often try too hard to
justify things ..." If a person is doing scientific research then
there is a need to be as objective as possible when recording observations
and a need to conduct experiments to test alternative hypotheses
(answers) related to the question at hand ... but even then you may
not arrive at a definitive answer (as you imply in your comments).
However, interpreting behaviour and other attributes of wild birds can
be worthwhile for a number of reasons. First, it is fun. Second, it makes
you think (that can't be all that bad). Third, you may have some insight
that no one else has had. Fourth, you may think of an easy way to answer
the question, etc. (there are various techniques you can apply) I would
also like to add that it is not necessary to be right (to know the
correct answer) when interpreting behaviour, etc. ... Besides, scientists
are often wrong, but they continue to practice their methodology to improve
their understanding, why can't a thoughtful, interested amateur be
encourage to do the same? Making an effort to interpret the actions, etc.
of birds adds an interesting component to bird-watching ... with this
said, it is necessary to keep an open mind to more parsimonious
explanations, etc.
The alternative explanations you provide in your e-mail are marvelous ...
I would contend that through careful observations it is possible to
eliminate some of them (or at least reduce their likelihood of being
correct). In any event, even if we fail to arrive at a satisfactory
answer trying to solve the mystery is fun and enhances our understanding
of the natural world.
I hope I haven't over-reacted to your comments ... no offense intended ...
I enjoyed reading your e-mail.
Cheers, Jim
P.S. When I get more time, I'll take a stab at your suggestions
mentioned in your e-mail below ... very interesting stuff. Perhaps, I
should address future comments privately ... I'm not sure others share my
approach to birding.
Dr. Wm. James Davis, Editor
Interpretive Birding Bulletin
On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Philip A Veerman wrote:
> I think that we often try to look too hard and try too hard to justify
> things. There is a lot of randomness in evolutionary process and an even
> greater amount of compromise. The white face on a heron could be a social or
> sexual signal, to indicate adulthood, it could be a reproductive isolating
> mechanism from other species of heron that don't have it. It could be
> counter shading or any other sort of thing. Maybe we shouldn't be
> questioning the white face but the blue-grey body. After all, most (all?)
> egrets that hunt in similar ways are all white.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jill Dening <>
> To: James Davis <>; Birding-aus
> <>
> Date: Friday, 23 April 1999 12:22
> Subject: Re: birding-aus Neck-swaying White-faced Hero
>
>
> > BTW,
> >>would you like to venture a guess why the heron's face is white?
> >
> >Jim,
> >
> >Sorry, I have been out of computer reach these past days. Like Anne Green,
> >I first favoured the notion that the broken colours of the face make it
> >hard for prey to discern a predator from below the waterline. However, I
> >can also come up with counter-arguments to this:
> >
> >For instance, if this is in fact a plausible theory,
> >1. why do more birds, which hunt in this manner, not have broken
> >colours? e.g. the Jabiru must pose a clearly discernible outline from
> >within the water.
> >2. why is the neck coloured in unbroken grey, when the bird would be
> >better off with total camoflage? Why camoflage one part, when the neck -
> >and body - would be so obvious?
> >
> >Already I can think of counter-arguments to my counter arguments (like some
> >species becoming more successful food gatherers than others, as a result of
> >their camoflage, leading to greater breeding success). However, I sometimes
> >have my doubts about reasons attributed to why birds have certain features.
> >
> >What do YOU think?
> >
> >Cheers,
> >
> >jill
> >
> >Jill Dening
> >Sunshine Coast, Qld
> >
> >26º 51' 152º 56'
> >
> >
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> >
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