Yup, it sure is snowing. The feeders here at the store are really hopping though – how about yours? Nothing unusual has shown up here, yet, but any minute now . . .

Anyway, I was just relayed a story that I wanted to share to demonstrate how birders SHOULD NOT act. The other day a gentleman (we’ll call him Joe), who is new at this birding thing, noticed a large group of “obvious(ly) big-time birders decked out in telescopes and telescope camera lens - lots of out-of-state license plates too,” gathered along the side of Route 27 in Dresden. Since “Joe’s” first birding trip was the experience of seeing the scene (chaos, really) associated with a “mega” rarity when a co-worker dragged him along to see Vermont’s Black-tailed Gull earlier this fall on their way back from a conference. Seeing this mass of birders and optics on the way home, he obviously was intrigued and pulled over to see what all of the “commotion” was about.

But, not knowing birder lingo, “Joe” asked the layman question “What are you looking at?” (This was apparently met with a few disgusted looks)

Now, I don’t know exactly what happened after that, but at some point our friend here made another mistake. Since there are over 900 birds in North America, it’s not too hard to get a couple of names confused and misspeak, especially when you’re just getting started. “Joe” then mentioned that he has regularly seen “Common Eiders” along this stretch of river, and was wondering if that was what they were looking at. What he meant to say, was “Common Mergansers.” A simple slip of the tongue.

So, what does a birding group do? Do they take the time to point out the error, educate “Joe,” share the joys of viewing Common Mergansers - or whatever else they were looking at – trying to spread the joy of birding to just one more person? OR, do they act like snobby elitist SOB’s and mock the guy? If you said the latter, you are unfortunately completely correct in this case. Instead of being decent and appreciating someone’s interest in taking the time to stop and ask the question, they instead told him that they were looking at a very special bird indeed – a Spectacled Eider! (Apparently among those common “Common Eider”).

Now, strange birds show up it strange places, but since Spectacled Eider - a highly endangered species – has only been seen ONCE outside of Northern Alaska (and that was in the Northwest Territories), I think it is safe to say that they probably were not looking at a Spectacled Eider. (And if they did, after I remove my foot from my mouth, I will begin another rant – why the heck they didn’t call anyone!!!)

Now, “Joe” armed with this exciting news emails his buddy (the one that took him on that Black-tailed Gull adventure), who emails another local birder, who immediately runs out to go looking for it (or the group, to find whatever it was they were looking at - Just in case!).

So, it seems (as I analyze this story third-hand) that a birding group – we assume they were together as no major rarities have been reported from that area and therefore they would have unlikely all been at the same place at the same time – decided not to take the time to attempt to enlighten someone about the joys of birding. Fine. (There are plenty of times when I’m out birding and don’t feel like wearing my “birding ambassador” cap and don’t want to teach a beginning bird watching course at the moment either. Fine. ) But, instead of just saying “Oh, just some Common Mergansers” they decided to make up a story and probably laugh as “Joe” walked away. Hmmm, I wonder why birders sometimes get labeles as “elitist,” “snobby,” or at least “anti-social outside of other birders.” Well I guess I would have to thank this group for furthering those stereotypes.

Anyway, that’s my rant for today – hey birders, let’s all be better ambassador’s for our passion! Now, back to shoveling . . . .