Hi all, I just wanted to weigh in on the purpose of the List. I am NOT a birder. I joined the list because I am an Ecologist at the University of Dayton and I am interested in pretty much anything related to Ecology in the State. I want to say that, even though I never pursue any birds that are posted here to get a glimpse, I find the list to be an ongoing record of biodiversity in Ohio and also very personally heartening. It is a manifestation of passion and interest in the environment that is all too rare in our society today. Though I mostly delete the emails, I do love seeing a long list in my inbox of various wild encounters. I sometimes read the accounts that individuals post here aloud to my wife and we we both feel better about the world and the people in it! Finally, I wish to disagree with some that the single purpose should be brief reports "Bird X is at Dock B." While I do enjoy those, it is also interesting to read other musings on the list, and longer tales of various bird encounters. To everyone, keep posting! -- *Ryan W. McEwan, PhD* *Associate Professor of Ecology* *Environmental Biology Program Director* *Department of Biology University of Dayton 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-2320 * *Lab: mcewanlab.org <http://www.mcewanlab.org/>Email: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>* *Office phone: 1.937.229.2558 <1.937.229.2558>**Office Location: Science Center 223D* ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]