Golden-crowned Sparrow

A male Golden-crowned Sparrow was found in Illinois yesterday so don't give up looking for Ohio's second record...

To the members of Rarebird,

  First allow me to thank the members of this list who have sent me messages of support during this thread regarding the sparrow in Findlay.  There are members here that are certainly some of the best people in the birding community; it is you who are the strength of this list and again I thank you for your kind words.

  I have tried to stay out of this discussion since it is my belief that forums such as this one should remain a pleasant place to report and discuss the birding world that we are all passionate about but since mine is the only name that has been dragged into this forum by others I feel I have the need as well as the right to respond.

   I will attempt to keep this brief.  First, birding from a private residence is not my style; I prefer my sightings to be in natural areas and do not enjoy intruding on others in their homes not even on an open invitation.  A tick mark on a piece of paper is just not worth it to me and makes me feel uncomfortable.  I am a watercolorist and do go to homes when commissioned to photograph my subject matter whether it be children or pets; I went to Findlay on business as my Blog clearly stated.    

  As to Gentle Ben’s remarks about “don't rub it in that you got to see it and we didn't and there is no way that we can”  I would ask that he understand that I have posted nothing on any of the Ohio Lists about seeing this bird.  A portion of my post to the Michigan Birders List regarding three species possibly blown in from the western states, which directed Michigan birders to my blog if they wished to read any details was copied from the Michigan list, and then without any permission pasted here.  I assume permission technically to do this is not required, but common courtesy would suggest asking permission first especially when publishing a person’s real name and personal e-mail address as part of the copy and paste.

  I am hearing more often that people do not want to post their rare sightings on internet forums and I could never understand why, until now…and this, more than anything else saddens me.  There is already another bird in Michigan seen yesterday that many would race to see but the birder refuses to post anything about it.  I fear this may be the growing trend and I must admit that before I post another sighting. I will pause to consider if it is worth the ramifications and scrutiny of others.

   With that said, it is springtime and migration has begun.  Let’s end this unpleasantness and get back to birding.

With kind regards,

Charles Owens

You can find my private e-mail address in troybird’s previous post.  If anyone feels the need to respond or has anything else that needs clarifying please do so privately to me.