I am enrolled (or whatever you call it) on the PA Birds listserv, and I just had a little trauma, thanks to my over-eager posting. A while back, I found what I thought was a feather from a Northern (yellow-shafted) Flicker. I posted my discovery here, along with some other photos.
Anyway, just now, someone sent a call out on the listserv for an ID of a feather -- with pics of a feather just like mine. The sender said something to the effect that "if you're really confident, reply to the whole listserv; if not, just reply to this other address." So of course Eager Beaver Delia (stop snickering!) writes, "I'm fairly certain that's a Northern Flicker feather, as I found one just like it after seeing a flicker in my yard last year!" etc. etc. I even linked to my blogpost and everything! I'm thinking, "boy, oh boy, maybe I'll get a little more traffic on the blog!" right?
But wait -- So then another listserv guy sends in an email that says he'd bet his boots that it's a guinea fowl feather. So I panic--I google guinea hen, and sure enough -- their bellies are covered with these spotty feathers! I've just embarrassed myself on a statewide listserv!
I then think--I should take my guess back! So I email the listserv and say "oh, you know that guy's probably right -- there's a farm about five hundred yards away with guinea fowl" or something to that effect.
But wait again!--neither of my emails has appeared... I then get an email saying that for some reason, my listserv email was sent to the listserv's monitor, who happens to work at the same company I do (cool). So that's why my email did not appear yet! So then I think, my pal the monitor -- he'll delete it before it goes out, if I ask him to! So I send him an email and ask him to delete my other email. Then no sooner do I send that email than I get a second "your email's being sent to the monitor!" email from the listserv! Sorry, pal who is the listserv monitor and works at my workplace!
AAGGGH!!!! Sometimes I hate the immediacy -- and the some-time lack thereof -- of email.
5 comments:
ROFL, that's a funny story - sounds like something I'd do!
Wait till you post a unintended message to the entire list giving one half of a breaking up couple the it's okay I'll still be your friend. I said it to both...but only one went to the whole list. Texas is a mighty big state!
Thank god for the list owner for re-setting the reply prefs.
Sorry to hear your trauma!
But I'll still be your friend!
Here is a site for feather identification. I know flickers are included, but I am not sure if there are examples of those particular feathers. Chances are that your instincts are correct - particularly for the bird in your backyard.
Sorry about the embarrassing situation.
WHAT A HOOT! I'm very careful on my listserve. The people I hear from are very, very, experienced birders and I don't want to put my foot in my mouth.
LOL - you're a riot.
Owlman--glad to amuse! I think the administrator caught it all, thank goodness.
Liz--yay!
John--thanks for the great link!
Mary--again, glad to amuse--you always crack me up.
Post a Comment