To all:
I have several questions that seem to have obvious answers, but I
suspect that there are some interesting responses waiting to be drawn out of
the Birding-Aus members. Why is there a need to recruit young people into
birding clubs? As I have learned recently on my trip, bird clubs are not
set up to include the interests of young people. If this is indeed the case
why bother to recruit? (BTW, It isn't enough that young people are brought
to bird camps by their parents.) Perhaps more importantly, why are clubs
interested in recruiting people (independent of their age) to birdwatching,
with techniques similar to selling them a new car, as if it was an exciting
new fad that a person can exploit to impress their neighbour, etc.?
Birding watching already has a high profile, despite the negative
stereotypes. It would be a big mistake, in my opinion, to recruit people
if the sport/activity itself doesn't have the capacity to accommodate the
expectations of the newcomers (this is where I think the argument should
focus). In other words, what does the birding community have to offer that
is new, exciting, and challenging? As many of you know, I have my own
opinions on this topic ... it seems obvious, that chasing birds around the
country isn't the answer, else we wouldn't be having this discussion. On
the other hand, perhaps I am wrong ...
I think David Geering comments in his recent e-mail to Birding-Aus speaks
volumes. I would like David to expand on his comment "there were young,
enthusiastic birdos at every turn of the path." ...
Cheers, Jim
Dr Wm James Davis, Editor
Interpretive Birding Bulletin
www.ibirding.com
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
