Is there a problem?
I’ve been pondering a thread that came up a couple of months ago on one of the lists I subscribe to because it concerns questions I haven’t resolved. The thread, resurrected and lumped together with an unrelated one that prompted discussion a week ago, concerns what and how much birders drive.
A list subscriber posted a couple of comments expressing concern about birders driving great distances, sometimes to see only one bird. It’s unfortunate that the comments were viewed as more critical than constructive, because the topic is one worthy of serious discussion. After all, most of us drive to bird at least some of the time. How do we decide what is too much? And does it matter what we drive?
Why we do what we do
Those who posted discussed the merits of gas guzzlers (represented by SUVs) versus gas sippers (represented by hybrids) and explained why they drove one or the other. Those who like SUVs as birding vehicles appreciate their passenger and cargo space and their ability to cover rough terrain. Those who like hybrids appreciate their low emissions and fuel economy. They also noted that smaller vehicles are not necessarily too small to comfortably accommodate passengers and gear.
Reasons for driving long distances include the joy of seeing birds that one wouldn’t see in a Missouri back yard or city park and seeing areas that look more natural than yards and parks. A number of people bird with others, both for the companionship and to share costs, companionship being the higher priority.
Some thoughts on the above
One thing is apparent, and that is that we birders have a well-developed sense of entitlement. Whether we drive high-mileage, low-emissions hybrids or low-mileage, higher emissions SUVs, we consume fossil fuel and contribute to pollution. Those of us who drive vehicles that get 15 mpg pollute more those who drive cars that get 45 mpg, all other things being equal. If we drive SUVs, it’s because we want to. We drive to birding spots on yellow and orange air quality days (regardless of what we drive) because we want to.
I’m fond of pick-ups but have a visceral dislike of SUVs. In addition to their lousy gas mileage, they’re cumbersome and look rather silly in cities and suburbs. But I’m not interested in demonizing SUV drivers. People I respect, as well as some of those most dear to me, drive them (besides, I have that affinity for pick-ups). Nor am I interested in demonizing people who take long birding trips (I hope to take more of them, myself). What we drive is only part of how we use resources and materials. Driving to bird is only one of the reasons we drive, and is not the only use we make of transportation (someone on the list also raised this point, one that I’ve been thinking on for some time).
Holding birders to a higher standard?
I wonder whether a birder who mentioned that she was going to drive to Chicago for a weekend of theatre and opera would be open to the same criticism as a birder who was driving up to see a vagrant on Lake Michigan. What if each person drove up every weekend for a season, either of theatre or of birding? Would those of us who are uncomfortable with racking up birding miles be as inclined to criticize the theatre fan as as we would the birder? If not, why not?
To be continued.