[texbirds] TRBC and the Mockingbird
- From: Coddlers@xxxxxxx
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:37:23 -0500 (EST)
This forum has for the past few days seen several posts stemming from the
TRBC's decision not to "accept" the Tropical Mockingbird.
I ask the same question that I have often asked of California Rare Bird
Committee members.
Who cares? So what? Or, putting it a little more scientifically, who will
subsequently use the committee's decision, and to what end? More
generically, why do state committees come to these yes/no, go/nogo,
accept/reject
decisions? Who are their "customers"?
I suggest that the one and only impact will be that the ABA checklist
committee will not now review the record, and the specie will, therefore, not
(yet) become "countable" in the game/hobby of listing.
I am not bashing TRBC or any other state committee. They typically do a
wonderful job of gathering, and storing data. Their insight and comments are
also extremely valuable. It is only the yes/no binary decision that I
question.
Several CRBC members that I have asked have suggested various "customers"
for their decisions.
1. Listers. Most committee members are adamant that they are NOT list
policemen. Each birder is always free to count what they like on their lists.
2. Government. Really? Does anyone in Austin care how the mocker got to
the US?
3. Future Scientists. I don't think so. After all, today's scientists
(including the committee members themselves) are "future scientists" when
looking at older records, including those already assessed by older
committees.
Do they take the previous decision as the final result? Of course not! They
re-assess the record, using primary sources - which is exactly what
"future scientists" will do to the current decisions - including the mocker.
So, I ask again. Who cares? Who really cares?
Bruce Barrett
San Jose, CA
(and occasional visitor to TX - when there is a great new bird to see -
such as a Tropical Mockingbird)
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