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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!rochester!nemo
From: nemo@rochester.UUCP (Wolfe)
Newsgroups: net.rec.birds
Subject: Re: The Great Net Cleanup Part IIb
Message-ID: <10893@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 6-Aug-85 11:25:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: rocheste.10893
Posted: Tue Aug  6 11:25:52 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 7-Aug-85 03:00:49 EDT
References: <697@gatech.CSNET> <1000@mtgzz.UUCP>
Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept.
Lines: 63

> 	OK, birders! They're thinking of taking away our group.
> ... please respond to the following questions:
> 
> 	Do you regularly read net.rec.birds?

Yes.  One of the reasons I still do is that it is not cluttered with
a lot of ridiculous arguments and flames, so the volume is low (does
not take hours/week to read) and the information content is high 
(contrast to net.singles or net.joke)

> 	If so, why do you read this group? Are you curious? 
Yes.  
> 	Are you an avid birder? 
Let's say I'm generally an opportunistic birdwatcher, with only one or two
outings a month for the purpose of observing avians.
>	Are you a lazy birder who wants to get some
> 	cheap thrills by reading other people's accounts of birding?
That, too.
> 	Do you ever post to this group?
Rarely.
> 	What kind of things would you like to see in here?
Interesting sightings, bird behavior, equipment reviews. 
> 	Do you think that one person could generate some questions
> 	and comments that could keep discussion rolling along in
> 	this group at a quicker pace? 
Why?  How much does it cost to keep a slow-moving newsgroup going?  Is it
really their intent to increase traffic?  Boy are they dumb!
> 	Any other comments are certainly welcome!
Way to go, Sharon!
> Sharon Badian

And now for some birding news from upstate NY :
	Pat & I spotted a blue heron flying erratically (ie: not the
	usual, gracefull glide) recently.  On further inspection, we
	noticed that it was being divebombed by a red-winged blackbird!
	Previously, I had only seen mockingbirds chasing other, larger
	birds around (in my homestate, Florida).  Are redwing blackbirds
	as territorial as mockingbirds?  Why else would it be chasing a
	heron?  I always figured that they only intimidated fish and 
	lizzards.  (Yes, on a number of occaisions I have observed great
	blues stalking lizzards - once about 6 feet away on the other side
	of the bay window at my mother-in-law's house.  When one noticed
	me once in some woods, it straightened up ("I'm a stick, see")
	and slowly walked away along my line of sight ("Just swaying in
	the breeze") until it passed a tree, then it swayed over behind
	the tree and continued to walk away hidden by the tree - pretty
	smart, these herons.)
	
	I also saw a hummingbird (female rubythroat) in my back yard,
	making the rounds on bee balm, onion flowers, cosmos, etc.  It
	lit at one point on some twine I had going horizontally between
	some poles for beans to grow on.  The twine did not perceptibly
	bend under it's weight.  Has anyone else seen a hummer light?

Well, back to work ...
Nemo
-- 
Internet:	nemo@rochester.arpa
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