As president of Santa Barbara Audubon Society, I question your choice of the word “birdwatcher” in the headline of today’s article about the arrest of Steven Courtney. We have more than a thousand members locally, and they are probably wondering about that choice, too. Did “birdwatcher” have anything to do with the charges against Courtney? I’m afraid I find this headline irresponsible and bordering on the offensive. I would hope for greater sensitivity to a peaceful activity enjoyed by many of your readers who strive to preserve birds and their habitat for our mutual benefit.
