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Message: <blockquote data-quote="richardm" data-source="post: 2865660" data-attributes="member: 2148">Hi John<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />You are right that there is quite some sport to be had from picking out the likely ones. But, somewhat inevitably, they do tend to be the 'sexier' ones, and sometimes I feel that the 'dull' ones might get sidelined too easily. There is a real danger that it being 'dull' might lead to a subspecies being synonymised without it being investigated with sufficient rigour. I agree, John, with your sentiment 3. Taxonomists and geneticists do have their uses, and their primary role is to investigate and report to the wider ornithological community (which as we all well know is an amateur-led field). I doubt too many scientists would see it as a priority, but "supporting twitchers' hobby" is definitely one of them. Listers worldwide benefit from the science, much as science in return benefits from the identification criteria synthesised by birders. That it is demonstrably two-way support (the course of events leading to the latest Subalpine splitting proposal being a good example) is heartening.Referring back to the crucial quote:"Subalpine Warblers will suddenly need a lot more care"prompts me to return to my thrust - that they would suddenly need more care highlights the fact that there has long been a shamefully lackadaisical approach towards identifying subspecies. Splitting does lead to discovery, and as such it is a good tool for that job. And, being better placed than most scientists to do it, the job of discovery is one that amateur birdwatchers (including twitchers) are very good at. cheersRichard</blockquote>

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