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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