Corey and I are always going on about how inextricably intertwined evolution is with birding. As a matter of fact, last time Corey overtly broached that topic, we experienced a surprising diversity of dissent. I believe, however, you’ll agree with Greg Laden when he asserts that birders need to more actively embrace evolution. He just sounds so reasonable, even when he brings Terror Birds into the conversation!
That’s the thing about reason, it makes you sound reasonable.
Couldn’t agree more! Where I live and work the patterns of bird diversity and form only makes sense with an understanding of evolution.
Look out for my article on bird evolution and australian birdwatching in a week or so on the Australian birding blog http://bird-o.com/
“…From so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” -Darwin
Looking at life in its entirety, from beginning to present, and all the processes that have shaped it really does make the view of only what we have now seem shallow by comparison.