Date: 12/25/24 11:48 am From: Anita Schnee <000003224553d416-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: A bird-book delight & "WOODY'S LAST LAUGH" by Dr. J. Christopher Haney
Regarding Barry's observation about public libraries' travails, today I found that federal Judge Tim Brooks has just struck down parts of Arkansas's version of laws intermeddling with librarians' discretion. Our governor and attorney general promise an appeal, but so far thank goodness for Judge Brooks. Below is a link to a NYT article on the decision, paywall removed.
This is indeed cause for celebration (if temporary). And thank you, Barry, for the reference to WOODY (which I will read for sure, it sounds fascinating) and for your good holiday wishes. These I return with interest, to you and to all.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/24/us/arkansas-book-ban-law.html?<unlocked_article_code...>&smid=url-share
On Wednesday, December 25, 2024 at 12:13:41 PM CST, Barry Bennett <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Thank You Anita & Happy Holidays ALL Birders!
Yes, I too found "THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES" great reading & yes, I too accidentally found in while browsing the shelves at the Fayetteville Public Library.
We all know the public libraries have been in the crosshairs of certain politicians in Arkansas lately. Seems like this book & the other great bird books & field guides I have found at the Fayetteville Public Library & the Springdale Public Library over the years are a great reason to support ALL public libraries in Arkansas.
My favorite bird book that I read this year that I accidentally found while browsing the shelves of the Fayetteville Public Library is called WOODY'S LAST LAUGH, How the "EXTINCT" Ivory-billed Woodpecker Fools Us into Making 53 THINKING ERRORS" by conservstion biologist & ornithologist Dr. J. Christopher Haney.
Although this book is a book by an experienced ornithologist, it is a book about cogitive science, behavioral psychology & the philosophy of science. ""WOODY'S LAST LAUGH uses the science of the ivory-billed woodpecker from the 19th, 20th & 21st centuries (& the resulting recent controversies about this bird) to demonstrate how scientists & the North American Birding Establishment have used distorted thinking & bad science in their assessment of this species.
You don't have to be a nerd for cognitive science, behavioural psychology or the philosophy of science to enjoy this book. You don't even have to care for the existence of the IBWO (Haney describes himself as an "Agnostic"). This book will destroy ALL of your preconceptions of the IBWO. It is a book that will remind us that there are important differences between modern science & birding & confusing modern science & birding can have terrible consequences.
Barry BennettFayetteville
