Thanks to all for the thoughtful remarks. The modest number of respondents seemed to agree that the topics and 'flavor' of this list have changed, and I believe it is fair to say most say they don't value it as much. I have to say I hardly ever see any public put-downs on this list, though, and the folks who complained about them aren't seeing them here, but on some back channel. Those who harass others seldom do it in the light of day. If there is a theme to the salient remarks, I'd say it was a feeling that fewer people are talking less often about the sorts of things that make birds interesting, and more just about listing: "drive to Point A before 7 am, look ENE on the far edge of the pond, take your photo, drive home and post results." Helpful advice I suppose, but that's all it is, and these data tend to crowd out more meaningful discourse these days I'm sure observers are still learning and thinking about bird populations, the effects of weather and climate change, molt timing, habitat and food preferences, etc., and some pay attention to changes in bird populations and the reasons for them, not to mention the interactions of birds and other creatures in their environments. Some have light to shed on how well we humans are accommodating birds in their struggle for existence, and how we might do better. But we don't hear about as much of this on the list these days. Why not? We can always say we're dutifully following instructions sent down from Mount Cornell, counting (e-)birds and their dates and locations--and of course taking the obligatory but seldom informational photos--but we shouldn't rely on them to do all the thinking, and our experiences shouldn't end up just in the files. Otherwise it's just a bore. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ 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]