Beautifully written, Allan.
Andy
On 17/04/2013, at 12:41 AM, Allan Richardson <> wrote:
> Hi Jude,
>
> You're not alone, I think all of us subscribe to birding-aus because we all
> have (at least deep down) that childish fascination with birds.
>
> And really we're all beginners at one level or another, you never stop
> learning in any field, but regarding nature, it's like every day is Christmas
> morning for us.
>
> There are different personalities in the group and it sometimes means that
> the words don't always come through softly even when the author means it that
> way, you can't change what others say only our own response.
>
> A little on personalities. Every field is a blend of heart and mind, some
> appear a little heavy on the intellectual side of the discipline, but that
> doesn't mean they're not birders at heart. I see some folk apologising for
> being a beginner, when they feel a little over-awed by the intellectual side
> of birding being share on the forum, what a sad state of affairs.
>
> Don't be disheartened if you're a beginner, if every Australian took up
> birding we wouldn't be descending into the loss of empathy for the
> environment that some of the community seems to be fostering at the moment.
> Perhaps it says a little about the breadth of difference in what society
> deems as civilised.......
>
> I remember Roger Tory Peterson once saying how when birds became a chore,
> i.e. because he was tied to his drawing board for weeks on end, the only way
> to revive was to go out and look at living birds.
>
> The trip reports do just that, they are a tonic for the heart of a birder, so
> long may they be shared and thank you for sharing your thoughts.
>
> Happy Birding
>
> Allan Richardson
> Morisset NSW
>
>
> On 16/04/2013, at 6:08 PM, Jude Latt wrote:
>
>>
>> I am such a beginner in this world of birds ...
>> but I love them. And I'm very hard on myself at gaining a tick.
>> I've been 'watching' now since Feb 2000 and I've only managed 402 birds.
>> But I'm stoked at that.
>>
>>
>> I love this mailing list ... I read everything, even though I understand
>> little
>> when it comes to genetics and the like. Actually, I understand less than
>> little.
>> But still I read in the hope that something sinks in.
>>
>>
>> I love it when people post there reports.
>> I learn so much from their blogs.
>> And as I'm an oldie .. and get to travel a bit now and then,
>> I so rely on people posting trip reports.
>> Please, keep them coming. I read them all.
>>
>>
>> Jude
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: david taylor <>
>> To: Birding-Aus aus <>
>> Sent: Mon, Apr 15, 2013 8:33 pm
>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Mundane & useless threads
>>
>>
>>> Paul Dodd wrote "In fact, I was criticised for posting trip reports
>> recently too"
>>
>>
>> If people like Paul Dodd and others stop posting trip reports and useful
>> commentary on their birding adventures Birding-aus really wont be worth
>> subscribing to! How anyone could be critical of Paul ( and others)
>> generous
>> details on their trips is hard to fathom!
>>
>> David Taylor
>>
>>
>>
>> On 15/04/2013, at 8:20 AM, Paul Dodd wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I thought I'd stay out of this conversation thread as I can't really abide
>> another discussion on capitalisation and grammar - HOWEVER, when the
>> conversation turned to bullying I felt that I had to participate.
>>>
>>> I have seen many postings over the years that I think are, at the very
>>> least,
>> rude - if not stepping over the line towards bullying - I won't give the
>> precise
>> examples here but they invariably occur around two topics - requests for
>> assistance with ID, and requests for information/assistance regarding
>> birding
>> and birding locations, and generally these postings are from relative
>> newcomers
>> to the list. Oftentimes the replies are helpful and encouraging, but from
>> time-to-time the replies are hostile. Replies to requests for ID suggesting
>> that
>> people have better things to do than substitute for field guides, for
>> example.
>>>
>>> I see any forum (and birding-aus is a forum) as a collaborative experience
>>> -
>> where people should be able to post a request, or post a reply, without
>> having
>> any fear of being attacked. To be honest, I have tended to adopt the
>> principle
>> that I will post trip reports and other pieces of information, but not
>> engage in
>> the conversations because I don't want the grief. In fact, I was criticised
>> for
>> posting trip reports recently too, which makes me think that maybe I'll stop
>> doing that too. I should point out that in my experience, much of the
>> bullying
>> and criticism is offline - which I find worrying as it is covert, and we'll
>> never know the extent of it.
>>>
>>> Paul Dodd
>>> Docklands, Victoria
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From:
>>>
>> On Behalf Of Robert Inglis
>>> Sent: Sunday, 14 April 2013 9:37 PM
>>> To: Birding-Aus
>>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Mundane & useless threads
>>>
>>> Philip, (of Philip, Kylie, Joshua, Noah) if you feel I have bullied you in
>>> any
>> way and particularly by responding to your previous posting (which I believe
>> was
>> to ask for birding advice) by correcting your spelling and bird names please
>> accept this public apology.
>>> I must admit I am completely unaware of how that could have happened and,
>>> if
>> it did, I am truly sorry.
>>>
>>> There certainly is activity on BirdingAus from time to time which could
>>> easily
>> be construed as “bullying” and I have sometimes felt some of it was directed
>> at
>> me.
>>> A lot of the threads on BirdingAus could easily be classified as “mundane &
>> useless” depending on your point of view but that is not a characteristic
>> exclusive to BirdingAus; it simply reflects the society we live in.
>>>
>>> Forums such as BirdingAus should be places where opinions are freely
>>> expressed
>> and argued but there is never any place for abuse and bullying.
>>>
>>> Bob Inglis
>>> Sandstone Point
>>> Qld
>>> ===============================
>>>
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>>> to:
>>>
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>>>
>>
>> David and Marg Taylor
>> Brisbane
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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Andy Burton
0431 550 105
9416 2636
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