23 replies to this topic

[Callie Cat]

I am curious if I can count the American Woodcock we heard today and waited patiently for, in the rain, for 45 minutes as a lifer. It was IDed, but we never saw it. Any suggestions?

[mtdavid]

I don't count birds, lifers or not, unless I see them. I don't get the same satisfaction or really feel right about recording a bird I can't find, whether I know it's there or not. But I'm sure others do differently; in fact I think the ABA allows heard only IDs on officially submitted lists.

[jsa47]

If I don't get a pic or video I don't count it, but that's just me.

[creeker]

I don't count heard only birds. That's why Saw-whet Owl and Spotted Owl are not on my life list.

[BarnSwallow]

I count heard ones, but that only adds 2 to my life list - whip-poor-will and chuck-will's-widow. I have no doubt I'll probably never see either of those birds! If I only had photographed birds on my list, I'd only have about 10! So many sightings were so brief or far away, there's no way I could photograph them.

[cwj2323]

I asked this question once and the advice I was given, if you are absolutely sure of the ID by sound then count it. I did count a Great Horned Owl , but it never "felt" like a true life bird. This was rectified this spring when we saw one on a birding club trip.

[NatureLady]

We only count birds that we have photographed and we have another list (non photographed) that is very short. But if you can ID birds by there call more power to you but still I wouldn't put it on my lifer list. I'd go back until I got a picture of it!!

[BarnSwallow]

Whip-poor-wills and the like are so hard to find, much less photograph, I would guess that most photographers can go a lifetime without ever getting a shot of one!

[creeker]

Whip-poor-wills and the like are so hard to find, much less photograph, I would guess that most photographers can go a lifetime without ever getting a shot of one!

We have Common Poorwills out here. I see them in the predawn darkness if I'm getting a really early start (usually hiking to a hunting spot.) They land right on the trail, then when I get about six feet from them they take off and land maybe 30 feet away. This will go on for about 300 feet, then they loop back. I saw one at night when camping. It was sitting on top of a big boulder. I climbed up to where it was and was actually able to touch it before it flew off. I think I got a few lame pics of it.

[Carolina]

Whip-poor-wills and the like are so hard to find, much less photograph, I would guess that most photographers can go a lifetime without ever getting a shot of one!

Heard a Chuck-will's-widow at just about dusk just last night in the wooded lot very near my house. Headed right out to try for some shots but no luck. Am pretty sure that it flew right past me in the almost dark. No pic but I am recording it on my list anyway. Have heard them all my life & there is no other bird that it can be confused with so I am OK with it. I will continue to try for a photo but think that it will be a very hard for me to get unless I luck out. Here's hoping.

My personal rule is only what gets photographed goes on my list but I believe in exceptions to every rule so...

[cabirds]

Ultimately - it's your life, and your list. Play your game the way you want to play your game. I suspect the number of people laying on their death-beds thinking "Gosh, I wish more people concurred with my birding lifelist" are in fairly short supply.

If claiming it makes you feel warm-and-fuzzy - the BirdPolice aren't going to arrest you for it, I promise!

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

I think I have a couple heard-only birds on my life list, but they're only ones that I was very sure on (Eastern Screech-owl, White-crowned Sparrow), and are mostly only on there because I reported them to eBird. It's totally up to you, though.

The UK only allows sighted birds on Big Year lists. Helps eliminate problems with mimics and the like, which is nice.

[cabirds]

I can box up and ship you some White-crowned Sparrows if you can afford them. They're eating about $15/wk at the moment...

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

I can box up and ship you some White-crowned Sparrows if you can afford them. They're eating about $15/wk at the moment...

Haha, that'd be lovely! Honestly, I can't believe I haven't found any yet.

[Jenny81]

I have seen WC Sparrows several times, but only twice were they adults. How come I always see the juveniles? Ah, well, at least I see them.

[Rudi Nuissl]

If I don't get a pic or video I don't count it, but that's just me.

Same here. That's why I don't have a Northern Cardinal on my official life list. Seen several, but somehow never got the shot.

[EyesOnTheSky]

Your list, do whatever you feel ok with. I won't count a bird unless I see it.

[Liam]

I don't count called birds unless I'm 200% sure on the identity. I have Whip-Poor-Will on my lifelist, and I've never seen one before, but I hear them every Spring/Summer.
I heard a Barn Owl last December, but I never counted it. Sometimes I don't count species that I'm not positive on so that when I do see them, I'll have a better lifer experience to remember.

[birdbrain22]

Bird Police called.... and they will be coming out to get you Callie Cat! You better run and hide.

I personally will not count a lifer without seeing it. I certainly add it on a trip or yearly list and note as heard only.

But you make your list as you want to... it's all yours. But just be carefull of that knock on the door of the Bird Police.

[Liam]

Bird Police called.... and they will be coming out to get you Callie Cat! You better run and hide.

I personally will not count a lifer without seeing it. I certainly add it on a trip or yearly list and note as heard only.

But you make your list as you want to... it's all yours. But just be carefull of that knock on the door of the Bird Police.

Who's the Bird Police, Bigfoot?