Ann Onymous finds a Common Rosefinch at Laurelhurst Park in Portland. She
reports it to OBOL. Should we
(a) dismiss the report immediately
(b) make an on-line appeal to Ann to defend her report
(c) speculate that what she saw was actually a House or Purple Finch.?
May I suggest (d) None of the above? Ann may be a budding birder, who, if
treated with gentleness and respect may become a vital and integral part of the
Oregon birding community. She may also be a budding birder from whom we will
never hear again if she is offended by a critical response to her report. The
chances of the former being the case would be much greater if a knowledgeable
birder contacted her privately, took the report seriously, asked a few
pertinent questions, and explained the reason for the questions.
I speak from experience. In 1974 a female Lark Bunting showed up on my farm in
company with some Purple Finches. At the time I was hardly a budding birder, as
I had been actively birding almost from before I can remember, but was entirely
unknown to anyone in what was then a rather small Oregon birding community.
However, being unable to find any records of the species in Gabrielson and
Jewett's "Birds of Oregon"., and not knowing anyone whom I could ask about it,
I sent a query to the Audubon Society of Portland. A short time later I
received from Harry Nehls a respectful letter, informing me, among other
things, that a bird of that species had been seen previously at Salmon River
meadows in north Lincoln County. That letter from Harry was the beginning of a
long exchange of letters and phone calls between us. It coincided with the
beginnings of my birding away from the farm in other areas of Lincoln County.
Over the next several years I found a number of species rare to the area and
state. If Harry was skeptical of those sightings, he never showed it. He
sometimes asked for specific details of plumage or behavior, but he always
treated the reports as having credibility. His encouragement was a real help in
my further development as a birder.
My point is simple. There is a vast difference between implausible and
impossible. If memory serves me correctly, one of Oregon's first Wheatears (if
not the first) was discovered at the unlikely location of somewhere near the
Narrows in Harney County on the unlikely date of June 22. Just because we don't
know the observer, and the report seems out of the ordinary does not mean we
should treat the report itself as if it had no credibility. Little Buntings do
show up in Wallowa County, and it was a novice birder who first found and
reported the Dusky-capped Flycatcher in Newport. Giving the benefit of doubt to
people who send reports which seem to us unlikely would go a long way toward
including new people into the Oregon birding community as well as enhance our
knowledge of birds which show up in our state.
Darrel
