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Prod
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 26, 2012 - 08:04pm PT
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Everyone see the movie The Big Year?
I propose that we do one here on the Taco. Starting March 1st 2012 ending Feb. 28th 2013. Anyone can join anytime between those dates.
-Bird sitings must be seen while on foot or bike from your home.
-Sighting can include call/ songs.
-Pictures are an added bonus and should be posted, but we all believe in integrity so this is based on your word and logs.
-Whom ever sees the most birds wins the admiration of the rest of us.
-Maybe a sushifest in the Desert next year for grins and awards. Nature...
-No domesticated birds (Crimpy and Brassie)
-Open to other suggested rules/ guidelines.
-Bird feeders are OK.
Who's in?
Prod.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Feb 26, 2012 - 08:08pm PT
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I read the book years ago and loved it. It's been on my netflix queue for too long (will be available 2/28/2012). I'd be in to play this if others are. Sounds like fun Prod.
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Prod
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2012 - 08:10pm PT
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I figured that you 2 were a given. Isn't DR. F. Some sort of a bird guy? Maybe we can get him off politics for a few posts.
Could be interesting seeing different regional birds.
Prod.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Feb 26, 2012 - 08:13pm PT
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He does pop up on the Birds thread for sure. You ought to cross-post this for the birders there.
We need to get you some more feeders!
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bergbryce
Mountain climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Feb 26, 2012 - 08:18pm PT
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I don't read many funny books but that one was hilarious.
Recommended if you need to add some humor to your usually serious reading list.
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Prod
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2012 - 08:29pm PT
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Ok how about with in walking distance from your house. Meaning you walked from your house and saw a bird. If you drove down the street, or rode your bike, and saw a bird it don't count. Yeah I like that rule. How about you Silver?
Prod.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Feb 26, 2012 - 08:44pm PT
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We are all birders here.
I just read the book a few weeks ago and enjoyed it mucho. The movie I enjoyed, although it was more Hollywoodicized, i.e. not as good.
OK, back yard or neighborhood?
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Feb 26, 2012 - 08:47pm PT
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I might play along. My yard list is pretty danged good, especially given the yard's small size.
Why 13 months?
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Feb 26, 2012 - 09:05pm PT
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Sweet! The walking rule makes it even better. I may start walking instead of working here with my face smashed against the window.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Feb 26, 2012 - 09:06pm PT
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I'm not really a birder, nor do I own property - so I guess that disqualifies me but
I'm currently bicycling down the length of Mexico. I just peddled thru the island village of Mexcaltitan, somewhat south of Mazatlan - roughly on the mainland, across from the tip of baja -
I've since learned that this is considered a birders paradise. Anyway, as the sun was setting over the lake I was sitting on the balcony of my hotel watching birds. I think I counted more than 30 species (they say there are over 300 in this area) including blue herons, sand hill cranes, egrets, pelicans, spoonbill rosarios (kind of like a pink flaminco) cormorants, sand pipers vultures, friget birds, coots ducks of various sorts, and many more that I don't recall right now. The next day I also saw a 12 foot long crocodile less than 6 feet from the road. All very cool - although I may have a problem sleeping on the beach from now on given the croc - ha ha
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Feb 26, 2012 - 10:35pm PT
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Clarification here, Prod man. Can I drive somewhere else, but
be on foot and count them? Or does it just have to be from my yard, or
the distance I can walk from my yard?
(You gotta be specific for dummies like me)!
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Feb 26, 2012 - 10:41pm PT
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Beautiful Roseate Spoonbill! They are such treats to see. I've only seen then in the Houston area and every time it causes the same thoughts: "Wow, a Flamingo! WAYDAMINUTE! There are not Flamingo here...it's a Spoonbill!"
Thanks for sharing.
edit: Another point of clarification...if we are on travel for business and at a hotel, do the birds we see there count? (I will be out of town when this begins).
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cyndiebransford
climber
31 years in Joshua Tree, now Alaska
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Feb 26, 2012 - 10:43pm PT
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I'm in as soon as I get home. I am on my way, probably four more days before I am there.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Feb 26, 2012 - 10:44pm PT
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So, when we each report our bird, we need to id the bird and the location, correct?
Maybe what we can do is two Big Years: One for backyard (or very near) birds, and one for birds away from the home. Thoughts?
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Feb 26, 2012 - 11:54pm PT
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The movie has a all star cast of funny people
Jack Black
Owen Wilson
Steve Martin
John Cleese
Brian Dennehy
Anjelica Huston
and more.
You're not supposed to annouce you're having a Big Year remember!
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john hansen
climber
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Feb 27, 2012 - 12:02am PT
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I have been trying to rent that movie for the last two weeks, cant wait to see it.
I agree with crimpie there should be an alternate list of all birds seen on any trip any where,, think we could reach 1000? I bet all of us together might only make 500..
Birding is hard work, but a lot of fun.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 27, 2012 - 12:09am PT
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Calls have to be countenanced. How else ya gonna tell a Cassin's from a
Botteri's sparrow, to mention a few? Besides, for us visually challenged
it wouldn't be fair otherwise, would it?
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jbaker
Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
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Feb 27, 2012 - 12:14am PT
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I really like the idea, but do most of my birding on my bike ride to work. I don't see much variety around the home feeders (chickadees, finches, juncos, phoebes, warblers, nuttall's woodpeckers, nut hatches, doves, jays, sparrows, and an occasional cooper's hawk, so wouldn't do too well if limited to that.
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 27, 2012 - 12:26am PT
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I love it. You all in the south have an advantage, although coastal Alaska might put up a fight.
But I'm with Reilly about songs, and it should be within bicycling distance, i.e. you count if you got there by bicycle from your house. That opens it up a bit. I still think we're f*#ked here in Seattle. Whatever you all come up with is a great idea.
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Tony
Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
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Feb 27, 2012 - 12:35am PT
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I'm in with whatever rules are settled upon. I will be traveling during some crucial local breeding season dates, so an additional overall list would also be desirable to me, too.
Edit: Darwin, you have some pretty good local habitat, so no sympathy for you.
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