mk2r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Paul Krenitsky) (12/03/89)
Hello, I have read the bboard for a while and noticed that people can ask for advice on places to go and such. I will be along the east coast of Florida, possibly the Everglades and also the Florida Keys the first two weeks of January. Being a resident of Pittsburgh, I naturally am very excited about seeing new and unusual birds, and don't know where would be the best places. Also, I realize that "listing" is taboo among real birdwatchers, but where precisely does the ABA define the limits of where you can "count" birds? For example, do the Florida Keys count, since they are not quite on the continent? I believe that the Aleutians count, though they are extremely far away from North America. Also, if anyone has an idea about short trips in Atlanta please send me mail. Thank you, Mark Krenitsky
john@nmtsun.nmt.edu (John Shipman) (12/03/89)
Mark Paul Krenitsky (mk2r+@andrew.cmu.edu) writes: +--- | ...I realize that "listing" is taboo among real birdwatchers +--- What do you mean by ``real birdwatchers?'' Among professional ornithologists this may be partly true (though many are ABA members), but most of the ``real'' birdwatchers I know keep at least some lists. I list for two reasons---for competition, yes, but also because listing is a good way to insure that I bird in the widest variety of habitats and seasons. +--- | ...where precisely does the ABA define the limits of where | you can "count" birds? +--- From the latest issue of ``Winging It,'' the ABA newsletter: ``ABA area: Canada and the 49 continental United States, St. Pierre et Miquelon, and their adjacent waters to a distance of 200 miles, or half the distance to a non-included area, whichever is less. The southern limit offshore to the west is the latitude of the Mexican border.'' There is a ``Birder's Guide to Florida,'' which should be available from ABA sales (800-634-7736). Olin Sewall Pettengill's ``Guide to Bird Finding East of the Mississippi'' is another good source, and will include Atlanta. -- John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/Socorro, New Mexico john@nmtsun.nmt.edu, ucbvax!unmvax!nmtsun!john ``Let's go outside and commiserate with nature.'' [Dave Farber]
jklee@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (James Kin Wah Lee) (12/03/89)
In article <cZS4H2O00XoB87T0MA@andrew.cmu.edu> mk2r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Paul Krenitsky) writes: > I will be along the east coast of Florida, possibly the Everglades > [ ... ] and don't know where would be the best places. Well, I'm not too familiar with birding in Florida, but when I was in Everglades NP in October, I found Flamingo to be the best spot to see a lot of different birds in a short amount of time. Lots of gulls, herons, terns and egrets. As I recall, we also saw anhingas and some warblers. There were supposed to be some white-crowned doves as well, but we didn't see those. Never did get that smooth-billed ani either. Darn. > Also, I realize that "listing" is taboo among real birdwatchers Whoa. Where did you get this idea? I had some good friends who worked as park naturalists in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario and all of them were good birders. Moreover, all of them had lists. In fact, some of them were so "enthusiastic" as to have: a life list, a year list, a regional list (i.e. all birds seen in the park), a provincial list (i.e. all birds seen in Ontario), a McDonald's list (i.e. all birds seen while sitting in a McDonald's just before going out birding), a record jacket list (i.e. all birds seen on various LP covers - NOTE: you do see a wide variety!), and an eat list. Yes, an eat list. This was composed of various species (** NOTE ** road-kills) that were removed from the asphalt and "taste-tested". I found this last list to be revolting. Apparently, the practice was stopped after some of them wanted to descend upon a road-kill that turned out to be the favourite bird of one of the members :-). Personally, I don't know any birding friend who does not have at least a life list! JIM -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Lee (jklee@phoenix.Princeton.EDU) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dept. of Geol. & Geophys. Sci. * ONLY IN CANADA, YOU SAY? * Princeton University * PITY ..... * Princeton, NJ 08544 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------------
king@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (joyce.l.king) (12/03/89)
> For example, do the Florida > Keys count, since they are not quite on the continent? I believe that YIKES! I certanly hope we count!!! Yes, Mark, I believe we do. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center has a lot of birding visitors, although I don't know how "ethical" it is to count a bird on your life list after you saw it in a hospital cage. Audubon thinks we count. They have two locations here on Key Largo (National Audubon). The Christmas bird count will be December 28. Groups will be dispersed throughout the mainland Keys and Florida Bay. When you visit, give me a call (305-852-7468) and I'll take you to the Center. If I am out of town (January promises to be a busy month), call Laura at the Center (305-852-4486) and get directions. Just tell her I told you to visit. That invitation is open to anyone coming to the Keys. If you bird by boat, please don't traipse around the uninhabited keys in Florida Bay. This is the beginning of nesting season for reddish egrets and roseatte spoonbills. They will leave the nest if you get too close. Since both populations are declining, we'd like to give them every chance to reproduce uninterrupted. Bring binoculars and sight them from a distance. We have a very large hawk population this winter...one of the largest in recent memory, according to the Audubon biologists. American kestrals are all over the place. We had peregrine flights numbering 200 or more during migration. A scarlet ibis has been seen around the upper Keys (Key Largo to Craig Key), and flamingoes (!) are in abundance on Snake Bight, although the book says they don't exist here. My sister's sea wall is regularly visited by a Wurdemann's heron (I bet that isn't on your list!) and my son works at a dive shop on the south end of Upper Matecumbe Key, where he has made "friends" with a sandhill crane. Most trips into the Everglades part of the Bay will cough up a bald eagle sighting or two. White pelicans are at Snake Bight and at Flamingo, in the Everglades. That's a sample. Come enjoy our birdlife. We are fighting to keep it. Joyce Andrews King (from the Florida Keys via modern communications)
christ@ccnysci.UUCP (Chris Thompson) (12/04/89)
In article <cZS4H2O00XoB87T0MA@andrew.cmu.edu>, mk2r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Paul Krenitsky) writes: > Hello, I have read the bboard for a while and noticed that people > can ask for advice on places to go and such. I will be along the east > coast of Florida, possibly the Everglades and also the Florida Keys > the first two weeks of January. Being a resident of Pittsburgh, I naturally Well! I just got back from Key Largo and the Everglades a few weeks ago! If you are in the Everglades, go along the Anhinga Trail. Amazing! I saw all the North American waders which were possible, and some interesting misc stuff- like the pileated woodpecker working over a snag right behind the ranger station. Herons, gallinules, and alligators abound. BUT: GO EARLY!!!!!! It is a very popular spot, and it will be packed by 9 AM. My other advice is to get down to Flamingo. If you are lucky, and are willing to drive a ways, you might see some of the pink suckers (I ran out of time). But I did see Bald Eagles & Forster's terns. If you get to Key Largo, go on the snorkeling trip out of John Pennycamp Coral Reef State Park. For about $30 you get the ride, and gear. But one of the plastic cards to help you ID reef fish. We saw about 25 we could identify, including barracuda, sergeant-major, pipefish, and butterfish. Well worth it! Have fun! Chris Thompson -- Chris Thompson <cbtcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu> <christ@ccnysci> [What does not kill us, pisses us off!!]