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Slater
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 29, 2011 - 12:17am PT
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OK kinda goofy but I just saw "The Big Year" and was intrigued.
My dad was always into birding but I never really got it.
My son is giving you all the bird in my avatar... but that's about as far as I ever got.
Now that I'm like old it sorta looks fun.
anyone out there... what field guide is best for birds in NA?
The whole... life list looks fun... is there a booklet I can get?
and can I count birds I've already seen or is there like an official "start"?
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Slater
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2011 - 12:21am PT
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cool! that looks like all the FUN facts about what you're seeing!
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
In the mountains... somewhere...
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Oct 29, 2011 - 12:23am PT
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Sibley's Birds is the new Hot Sh!t bird book.
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Oct 29, 2011 - 12:28am PT
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Hey Slater,
I have extra copies of guide books I'd give ya. I'll PM ya about it.
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Slater
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2011 - 12:28am PT
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so what book is the ID guide that tells me what kind of bird it is?
so maybe I'll need both those books?
and where do you record what you see?
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Oct 29, 2011 - 12:37am PT
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Chasing birds is good fun! A great activity for rest days on climbing trips and for dedicated trips to some very cool places. CG and I highly recommend Kenn Kaufman's bird guide. Birds are cool!
P.S. See the "Birds" thread - lots of great shots, bird info, etc.
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Tony
Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 01:25am PT
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Slater,
Here is the current official ABA checklist:
http://www.aba.org/checklist/abachecklist.pdf
This is the list used by the Big Year types. It's not the only one, though.
The AOU has its own list, which is broken up into orders:
http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/print.php
I have a spreadsheet version of the ABA list if you are interested. I have used it to keep trip and year lists. I haven't yet gotten around to compiling my life list, but I assume that I can backfill species where I can document date and location. I have a lot of photos predating when I began keeping lists.
Another way to go is to use the online tools at eBird. They have the worldwide list (~10,000 species)
I have many field guides and find that each has its advantages. The one I usually carry in the field is the Nat Geo Western Guide. I find it easier to get to the species that I'm looking for. It's also a little more up to date as far as range maps. In fact, I often carry no guide at all now that I have the Sibley Android App. There is also an iPhone app. This also has bird songs and calls.
Have fun. I think you may find it addicting like I did.
:edited to add links to the guides
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 01:41am PT
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BOIDS ROOL!
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Ken
Trad climber
Arroyo Grande
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Oct 29, 2011 - 02:24am PT
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I have a book (Golden) and local booklets for you.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 02:32am PT
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I recommend the Sibley guide, and you might as well go whole U.S. The latest Nat. Geo. is always solid as well. I'd stay away from any photo guides, although I hear the new Crossley guide is some new revolutionary dealio.
That N.G. journal you mentioned isn't a guide, but a journal to be filled out by the birder. I'm not really sure what's inside; never cracked one open myself. Any notebook will do.
As far as keeping lists, the ABA has rules, but I say just do your own thing. I don't get too hung up on the numbers, but I do keep some casual lists, mostly as a motivator and a way to organize my learning and catalog experiences. Lots of folks starting out keep notes in their field guides, but once you get underway you'll probably soon find that you've mis-ID'd a bunch of stuff, and make a mess of your book. Lots of lists online, already mentioned. Also, the taxonomy's always getting shuffled around anyway, so list maintenance can be a real drag. There's software out there too.
eKat said "you're gonna want area specific ID guides, as well." Maybe distribution guides, but not regional ID guides. If you really get into it, you're gonna want more taxonomically-focused guides: shorebird guides, raptor guides, seabirds, hummingbirds, gulls, sparrows. I have a whole book on jaegers and skuas. 190 pages dedicated to seven species!! Here's an immature Long-tailed Jaeger eating a Mallard head at Lake Tahoe last August (2010). This bird was supposed to be migrating far out in the ocean, but one of the really fun things about birds is that they turn up where they're not supposed to.
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labrat
Trad climber
Nevada City, CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 02:33am PT
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I like the Cardinals!
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hooblie
climber
from where the anecdotes roam
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Oct 29, 2011 - 06:15am PT
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extra tough ID on that mallard head!
one morning, pre-dawn i was checking out a junked semi trailer that the wind had tipped over.
i had a headlight on, and peered into a cubby hole that was formerly out of reach.
a flicker came to the door and at a range of about three feet, gazed grogily into the glare
for quite a while before flying off ... a real treat cuz that's not their style in the woods.
BN's pic is a nice reminder of the detail that dazzled me right back
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Oct 29, 2011 - 10:30am PT
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Lots of good books. I like Kaufman because it is easy to carry in the field. Then I have ALL of them at home. Like gear, you cannot have too many.
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Oct 29, 2011 - 11:12am PT
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I don't keep a life list but I think my numbers are pretty good. I never thought of my self as a birding but I sure do spend a lot of time and traveling to look at them. They are just beautiful.
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jbaker
Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 12:20pm PT
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You can find your local Audubon Chapter here. They are a great resource for county lists, local classes, good places to bird.
It can be fun to go out on the Christmas Bird Count. You can learn a lot about the local birding in a day.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 12:23pm PT
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LOL, did the Christmas count in Wasilla, AK one year. Did quite well - 14 species
including a Kingfisher which had 'em pretty jazzed.
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tom Carter
Social climber
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Oct 29, 2011 - 12:37pm PT
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Lots of info online as well of course.
Check out the Cornell sites and http://www.backyardnature.net/birdwrld.htm
It is a lifelong pursuit. So much to know.
And you already know a bit more than you think. As you start looking around you will see the patterns that will help you identify birds, habitat, etc.
Stay with it!
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Slater
Trad climber
Central Coast
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2011 - 04:40pm PT
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wow!
how cool, I've tapped into an entire sub-culture!
My buddy and I are gonna invest in some stuff this holiday season so it is good to know what the experts think!
climb and bird on!
Tom
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