[texbirds] On being a leader and making mistakes

From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins@xxxxxxxx>
To: Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:01:08 +0000
Not all leaders are cut out to be good ones. LaSalle comes to mind here, Joshua 
Gregg may be another. Both were successful for a time but eventually were 
killed or left to die by those they led. I have heard of a couple of bird 
guides who died while on duty, apparently scouting for Fishing Owls is 
dangerous work, but never have I heard of a birding field trip leader being 
killed or left to die by the tour participants.
A good birding guide needs to be a leader and confident. Those two qualities 
invariably cause problems when their human side arises, i.e. they become human 
and make mistakes. I consider myself a good bird guide, maybe an exceptional 
one but not that exceptional of a birder. As I age especially, my ears are 
gone, my eyes are shot, and I think one thing and out of my mouth comes 
another.  If you go with me on a field trip you will see me make mistakes. I 
would like to think I or the group corrects all of them on any given day but 
probably not, as we are all human. Personally I would never be a "leader" in an 
area I was not extremely familiar with. I would know the basic ecology of the 
area, the dominant plants and when to expect at least 95% of the birds. My 
mistakes are usually miss-speaks (a 60+ thing) or being too quick to try to get 
everyone on a bird without looking at it as well as I should. But sometimes I 
probably just plain miss something and miss call a bird. I always welcome 
questions and comments. I like to call out the field marks as we watch a bird 
so everyone can identify the bird on their own. Unfortunately many birds don't 
present themselves to this type of study. I also have on all my trips many 
novices so they are happy to study a Savannah Sparrow or an Orange-crowned 
Warbler.  Fortunately they do not expect me to find and identify a Thayer's 
Gull!

If a leader does not have a willingness to have their identifications 
questioned and then present a case for the field marks, behavior, calls 
distribution and time of year, and why it is not a more common alternative 
species, then I suggest you find a new leader. If they tell you they are sure 
of an identification because they are very familiar with the species, be very 
skeptical. Of course I might tell you that about a flock of Western Meadowlark!


Fred Collins
             (281) 357-5324
Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center
             Cypress Top Historical Park
Commissioner Steve Radack
Harris County Precinct 3
www.pct3.hctx.net<http://www.pct3.hctx.net>



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[texbirds] On being a leader and making mistakes

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