Big Year (birders wake up)

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Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Mar 1, 2012 - 03:06pm PT
Edit: I think Dr. F is sandbagging us and expects to get 200+

Then I'm boosting my handicap to 199!
Chaz

Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
Mar 1, 2012 - 04:57pm PT
I'm on the board. I got one.



Big Year coming!

I'm only going to count the ones I get pictures of. I don't know the names of most of the birds around here, and I have to have photos of them anyway to compare with the pics in the book when I try to identify them.
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Mar 1, 2012 - 06:32pm PT
Hey Prod,

Can you recap the guidelines? I got lost at some point.
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 1, 2012 - 07:10pm PT




Did I beat Tami to it, and how many does this count for? I hope a lot, 'cause I saw 1 crow on property today, that's all, and almost nothing on the bike ride into work. But, it was kind of neat that there was a Barrow's Goldeneye in the slough at the Union Bay Fill, so that was a treat even if it wasn't big numbers. Yesterday there were 19 Blue Herons in a row in the space of about 20 yards at the Fill.

Explanation: We use old calendars for wrapping.
Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Mar 1, 2012 - 09:47pm PT
The weather cleared in the afternoon, so I went out for a couple of hours along the shoreline and the nearby park and got up to 50 species. This seemed pretty good except that is probably 80% of the species one can reasonably expect to find around here within walking distance. It's not too good for nesting passerines, so it looks like I will have to be biking it. The best bird of the day was a Green Heron followed by a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Mar 1, 2012 - 11:14pm PT
- Bird sightings 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.
 Whoever sees the most birds wins the admiration of the rest of us.

OK, I already sighted 1,123 species, while sitting at my computer. Where can I get my prize?

ps Let me know if you want the photos and recordings - sure is a lot of bird stuff on line. I got 634 species right here on SuperTopo!

Edit: And my feet were on the ground the whole time!
Chaz

Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
Mar 1, 2012 - 11:19pm PT
I don't think you're allowed to sit, unless you're sitting on a bicycle.

That's how I read it, anyway.
john hansen

climber
Mar 1, 2012 - 11:20pm PT
This place is going to the Birds...



Rented the movie last night,, I thought it was pretty good. We used to do big days and get 120 or so.
I liked the part where Owen Wilson was suspected of inflating his count but he really had the integrity when it came down to it..

some where around 275 life time..


jbaker

Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
Mar 1, 2012 - 11:28pm PT
I had about 1/2 hour of daylight on my ride home. Birds seemed to be still sheltering from the storm, but I managed to get a few:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Black Phoebe
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Crow
Double-breasted Cormorant
American Coot
Pie-billed Grebe
Common Golden Eye
Western Grebe
?? Scaup
Dark-eyed Junco
A domestic duck hanging out with the Mallards (I know it doesn't count).

I'm just a novice, and am sure I won't win, but it is fun to start working on a list. I'm paying more attention and am more bothered I couldn't id the sparrows or gulls than I would have been on Feb 29.
Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Mar 1, 2012 - 11:48pm PT
Dr F.

Not to worry. I saw most of the species that are regular now. It will be slow going from here, especially when spring is full force. We don't have a ton of nesting passerines here. I will have to be diligent during migration, I think. The wintering aquatic birds are the strong suit here.

jbaker, You are in a pretty good spot for wintering birds. Check out the water treatment ponds at Redwood Shores. That is a great place to look at shorebirds, ducks and gulls at short range. There are Black Skimmers there, too!
cyndiebransford

climber
31 years in Joshua Tree, now Alaska
Mar 2, 2012 - 02:25am PT
Just got home yesterday afternoon after being away more than six months. The bird feeders are buried under snow. We had record snow fall this winter. Who knew? I had to dig for hours yesterday just to get a spot big enough to get the truck off the road and tunneled my way to the front door.
Today on my way back and forth carrying loads of gear from the camper to the house I saw:
Common Raven, American Crow and a Bald Eagle.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Mar 2, 2012 - 10:09am PT
Where were the Spelling Police???

I think they're on vacation as yesterday I got an email flouting a trip to
the Rio Grande delta with a famous photog where we would likely see, among
others, "Crested Baracaras"!

Prod

Trad climber
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2012 - 07:55pm PT
This is awesome, we, ok some of you are off to a great start. StahlBro, did you get the recap from our Canuck friend up thread?

I'm slammed with work, but here is my plan.

Sunday is paperwork day, Hate it. I'll knock out a spreadsheet and provide tallies of who is currently on and what their count is. I will also provide a link to the spreadsheet for details of who saw what.

I am looking forward to this!!!

Prod.
Slater

Trad climber
Central Coast
Mar 2, 2012 - 10:48pm PT
I started on Halloween and have #118

:)


The BIRD thread on ST rules
jbaker

Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
Mar 2, 2012 - 11:00pm PT
Tony:

Yes, I'm in a good spot. On my ride home last night, I went past the waterways and sloughs around Oracle, and this morning took the bikepath along Bair Island. Lots of shorebirds. I'm hoping to get out to the treatment ponds and the radio tower this weekend.

I live in Oak/Bay Laurel woodland, so should be able to get the local finches, jays, woodpeckers, doves, etc. tomorrow. I haven't been home during the daylight since the start of this.

Dr F.: Yes, I've got Sibley's. I can identify the super-common stuff, but have a lot to learn.

Joe
Slater

Trad climber
Central Coast
Mar 2, 2012 - 11:17pm PT
Dr. F

ha ha right on!

Man I'm spinning my wheels down here.
But just wait baby...

something's bound to change!

But until then I'm just watching the locals fly by.

Enjoy the view
Tobia

Social climber
GA
Mar 3, 2012 - 09:47am PT
Any recommendations on binoculars? Magnification and brand (best pricing for $)?
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Mar 3, 2012 - 11:48am PT
Dr,

There was so much discussion on the "rules" (guidelines really) I didn't know where they ended up. But thanks for sharing ;-)

Got started this morning in the yard. 15 so far.
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Mar 3, 2012 - 11:58am PT
I have a Bushnell travel pair that is pretty good 8X32, 365 @ 1,000 yards. Pretty compact.
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Mar 3, 2012 - 01:47pm PT

A cool article in today's Denver Post about research on a little
known bird, done by Coloradoans. . .

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20092428
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