snell@utzoo.uucp (snell) (12/21/87)
In article <415@picuxa.UUCP>, gp@picuxa.UUCP (Greg Pasquariello) writes: >> I have finally found a fairly reliable way to tell lesser black >> backs from flocks of swirling gulls; the LBB's seem to have >> an *extremely* long winged "jizz". This works for me with second >> year gulls and later. This may not work with first year birds, >> but at least if I see a long-winged gull, I am sure to check it >> for a lesser black backed. In article <2725@vanhalen.rutgers.edu>, pratt@paul.rutgers.edu.UUCP (Lorien Y. Pratt) writes: >Um, what's a "long winged `jizz'"? Jizz. It is British birding slang, and refers to knowledge and use of a particular set of characteristics by a particular birder in in a particular situation to identify a particular species. One can determine what something is by knowing its `jizz'. Thus, a Lesser Black-backed Gull has different flying jizz than other gulls, at least for Greg Pasquariello. Another example of `jizz' is that for me, gull flight is much less static than fulmar flight; I have certainly seen enough of each (many many thousands) to know, in an instant, which is flying by. `Jizz' is an extremely useful word, and part of the fun is that `jizz' can not be explained. Real jizz must be learned by experience. You must have the `Knowledge'. A simple example, for even the most beginning beginner, is Starling jizz and Robin jizz. You know one from the other. Period. Why? (That is, what allows you to make the identification in an instant, rather than think?) The why, is jizz. If you have to look something up in a field guide, then you have not used `jizz' to make the identification. For that species at least, you have not yet received the `Knowledge'. As well, my jizz for Robins and for Starlings is likely different than yours. But my jizz works, and so does yours (assuming that you know Robins and Starlings). The idea of `jizz' has been popularized in North America by an extremely amusing book: _The_Little_Black_Bird_Book_ by Bill Oddie. Unfortunately, it is out of print, though your local library may have a copy (maybe not... much of the slang which is explained is rather vulgar). Oddie described the mind-set of the fanatical birder... the `ticker'. We all have seen these people (there are several born-again-tickers here at utzoo). Tickers are interested in doing just that, making ticks on their list. Twitchers are a special form of tickers (when I have suggested calling this group rec.bird.twitch, it was an allusion to `Twitching'). Twitchers get so excited at the thought of ticking that their bodies literally being to twitch all over... You get the idea. Oddies book contains some hundred odd pages of detailed description of the fanatic birder, and the terms to be used to describe all his or her activities. I heartily recommend it. __ -- Name: Richard Snell Mail: Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1 UUCP: {allegra,decvax,ihnp4,linus,pyramid,yetti,utai}!utzoo!snell
gp@picuxa.UUCP (Greg Pasquariello X1190) (12/23/87)
In article <1987Dec21.094052.2857@utzoo.uucp>, snell@utzoo.uucp (snell) writes: > several born-again-tickers here at utzoo). Tickers are interested > in doing just that, making ticks on their list. Twitchers are Up with tickers!! :-)