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Message: <blockquote data-quote="amears" data-source="post: 3286291" data-attributes="member: 70879">Andy K, a good opportunity *to ask a few Qs* of someone who will respond thoughtfully and knowledgeably from the sharp end - thanks.A few examples of protected areas that you have had a hand in?  I ask because Duncan makes a very good point re the Philippines.Collecting the bird adds to knowledge about it.  Can't really agree with that, you gain far more by field study.  Everything else a specimen gives you can be gained from photos and small tissue/feather/blood samples unless you're going to study its kidney function of something like that, which we can all agree is totally different to what we're discussing here.This was a rediscovery I believe.  Are there already specimens in a collection somewhere does anyone know?I think Bugun Liochicla was formally recognised on the basis of photographs and small samples just a few years ago.And can we all agree at least that shooting a Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Alaska so it can be added to an American museum collection is abhorrent?  I think this happened, perhaps someone can confirm.As birders, we fear that a collecting mentality drives the activity.  We all know in our heat of hearts that some ringers are just out for their next ringing tick.  Might this be the case here but with collecting?AndyM</blockquote>