FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Re: local Big Year record tied

[Jacob Job <zjrj5@xxxxxxxxx>]

Congrats Rick.  Ive had quite a good year up in the far north birding where I 
now live.  I miss birding places like Roane Mt.  Hope the new year treats you 
well.
   
  Jacob Job
  Eastern Michigan University


          A Big Year in birding is an attempt to see as many species as possible
  within a prescribed area within a calendar year.  For members of the 
  Herndon Chapter of TOS (based in Elizabethton) the area consists of
  Carter County and adjacent Tennessee counties, namely Johnson,
  Sullivan, Washington, and Unicoi.  The entire summit of Roan Mountain is
  also included, even though part of it is in North Carolina (but still adjacent
  to Carter County).
   
  In 2000 Howard Langridge set a Big Year record for the local 5-county
  area of Northeast Tennessee by observing 237 species.  Most local 
  birders, including myself, thought that figure was untouchable.  However,
  in 2006 I was able to see that many, thus equaling Howard's feat.
   
  There were 221 species shared on Howard's list and mine.  We each saw
  16 species that the other did not.
   
  Howard's unique species were:
  Snow Goose
  Harlequin Duck
  Yellow-billed Loon
  Snowy Egret
  White Ibis
  Rough-legged Hawk
  Willet
  Whimbrel
  Western Sandpiper
  Laughing Gull
  Long-eared Owl
  Black-capped Chickadee
  Cerulean Warbler
  Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
  Common Redpoll
  Evening Grosbeak.
   
  My 16 unique species were:
  Ross's Goose
  Cackling Goose
  Tundra Swan
  Surf Scoter
  White-winged Scoter
  Black Scoter
  Am. White Pelican
  Least Bittern
  Little Blue Heron
  Cattle Egret
  Golden Eagle
  Black-bellied Plover
  Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
  Prairie Warbler
  Mourning Warbler
  Lapland Longspur.
   
  To get a really large number of species within a specific area,
  no matter the size, a birder must see essentially all of the regularly
  occurring species.  Some may require persistent searching, such as 
  rails or owls.  But, to miss even one can be costly.  In addition, you 
  must see as many rare species as possible.  By definition,  rare 
  species are not easily encountered.  Also, some years yield more 
  rarities than others.  Thus, a great deal of luck is needed.  As you can 
  see from the lists above (plus the rarities which were seen by both of us),
   both 2000 and 2006 were exceptional years for rare birds in the area.
   
  To succeed at a Big Year a birder must devote a lot of time to
  birding.  In 2006 there were 199 days in which I spent at least one 
  hour birding locally (much more than one hour on most days).  As 
  you might expect, April and September led the way with 28 birding 
  days each.
   
  Also necessary is a good network for sharing information.  The
  TN-bird and Bristol-birds listserves greatly facilitate that sharing.
  Local birders are very generous in quickly spreading the word
  when a "good" bird shows up, allowing others to have a chance
  to see it too.  This sharing contributed to both Big Year attempts.
   
  Sadly, Howard Langridge passed away in November 2004.
  However, there were several times this year when I thought that
  he was looking over my shoulder.  Walking through Quarry Bog or
  standing at Musick's Campground on South Holston Lake, I could
  visualize him rubbing his hands together, as he did so often at the
  sight of a "good" bird.  Perhaps it's fitting that we share the Big Year
  record.
   
  The former local Big Year records were 217 species seen by me in 
  1978 which was eclipsed by the 231 species seen by Brian Cross in 1989.
   
  Rick Knight
  Johnson City, TN
   
   

   
  


 
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