27 replies to this topic

[JimBob]

I looked at my list on a piece of paper and realized I had been counting some birds I have seen in captivity. I didn't like this so I printed the ABA checklist and started checking away. After that I counted how many lifers I had on each page. After counting one page I put the number of checks on the top. I then put all those numbers on a piece of paper, and added. To my amazement I got 153! I didn't believe this so I did it several more times. I got the same number. I still was not going to believe this, I had dropped several birds yet I got a higher number. I then got a calculator and added them. I got 152! I did this several more times and got the same number. I still was not 100% sure that it was right. I then recounted each paper and did the same thing. I got 152! So I guess that I have 152 lifers. I think this is going to take a while to get used to. Wow is all I can say.

JB

[NatureLady]

Congrats thats a good number!! But what was you number before or how many had you seen in captivity?
I hate seeing birds in captivity, its so sad. They are in a little cage and like one branch to perch on and people staring at them all day.....I'm not a big fan of zoos anymore either.

[Liam]

JB, same thing happened to me. I had written 206 lifers on my lifelist, but then I went through a checklist and orderly typed out a numbered lifelist and ended up with 212 species, even after removing all of my questionable sightings.

[JimBob]

Before the recount it was 146. I think it would be around 140 without captive birds. They were not in a cage but a large building, maid to look like there natural habitat. That is why I think I counted it. I counted birds like Sora, Atlantic Puffin, Rice Dove and a few others. (rice dove is from asia I think)

[johnnybirder]

I have never counted captive birds. I am at 289 wild life birds. I just wish my dad(Birdbrain22) and I could take a trip out West. That should bring the lifelist a couple of lifers or two.

[Bird Whisperer]

JimBob - Well, congrats on the life list! I got the urge to clean up my list a while ago, too, but my number just went down.

NatureLady - I know what you mean. Zoos are actually really depressing. I wonder if being a birder changed my mind about zoos, or if everyone gets this change of heart as they grow older.

[JimBob]

Thanks. I still am not believing it. It just doesn't seem right. . . But I guess in the long run it is nice.

[MATT K]

Spent yesterday and this morning cleaning up my list. Came out to 357 total. That's counting 2 that are common and only have definitively heard, and may never get a positive visual ID- whipporwill and chuck-will's-widow. And, one dead bird- northern sawhet owl. I don't seperate mine by state, region or even country but probably 270 or so are in the U.S. and probably 230 or so in the eastern U.S. It is very easy to "pad your numbers" with trips to a different areas, in my case Panama, Belize, and south Texas, but none are as rewarding or appreciated as adding lifers on your home turf.

[Raptor]

You guys should start entering checklists into eBird. It automatically keeps track of your list and separates it based on county, state and country.

On a side note: birds that are observed dead shouldn't count towards your list unless you saw it while it was alive.

[JimBob]

I do ebird. . . but I have not put in all the birds I have seen, because I don't remember when it was. (time, date pm/am, etc.)

I wouldn't count dead or only heard birds. . . I would have a much larger list with the ones I have heard.

[grammarcat]

On a side note: birds that are observed dead shouldn't count towards your list unless you saw it while it was alive.

My first white-throated sparrow was dead. I've seen hundreds now, but I don't think it's bad to count a dead bird, though I know most don't. At any rate, I think the agreed-upon rule here is that your life list is your own and you make your own rules and keep yourself honest. No one else can.

[JimBob]

I agree that it is your own list, so your own rules. . . but I don't think keeping track of dead birds is a good idea.

[NatureLady]

NatureLady - I know what you mean. Zoos are actually really depressing. I wonder if being a birder changed my mind about zoos, or if everyone gets this change of heart as they grow older.

Yeah I used to really enjoy going to zoos, it's so depressing to see the sad look in their eyes. When I became a real outdoors person and a birder I much rather going out and seeing the animal in the wild especially BIRDS!! I dont even like seeing banded birds. Mostly because I think that cant be comfortable, but I know its for a good cause.

[JimBob]

The one thing I don't like about birds when they are being banded is the sound they make! It is so sad! It sounds like they are being killed!

[BarnSwallow]

I keep track of dead birds I've seen but only dead in the wild - not like in a museum. They're not on my life list, of course - just a list in my head. A very short one - there are two birds I've seen dead that I haven't seen alive - brown booby and yellow throated vireo.

[JimBob]

I decided to remove on more questionable sighting. So my total is 151.

[Paruula]

A commendable effort, JimBob! I recently revised my lifelist so that I would only include sightings I had enough info on to put on ebird. It brought me out of the 300s. :/

I keep track of dead birds I've seen but only dead in the wild - not like in a museum. They're not on my life list, of course - just a list in my head. A very short one - there are two birds I've seen dead that I haven't seen alive - brown booby and yellow throated vireo.

I'm kind of glad to hear I'm not the only morbid one to do something like this! I've volunteered at a museum for 5 years, so I keep a lifelist and a deathlist. Rather than a check, I put a little X next to each species I have prepared as a specimen.
I worked with banders who kept lists of birds they've banded, and similarly, I have met people who keep a list of any bird they've held in hand. I don't keep one myself, but I did find myself having to ask to have my picture taken holding a Ducorp's Cockatoo in order to one-up a friend! Plus, it was a pretty awesome cockatoo.

[BarnSwallow]

Hey, I like that idea for a list! Now to try to remember all the birds I've held.

[EyesOnTheSky]

My first white-throated sparrow was dead.

Mine too!

[EyesOnTheSky]

I started birding last April and did something like 125 last year. It's only April this year and I'm already at 92.

A LL of 200 is my goal this year.