My rule of thumb for my "yard list" is this: Without from within, or within from without. So basically I either see the bird FROM my actual yard, or I see it IN my yard, though I may be outside the yard. If I were 20 feet from my yard, and a Mississippi Kite were to fly past me, I would have to run to my yard and see the bird from my yard to actually count it, unless I was absolutely sure it flew directly OVER the airspace of my yard. lol But that's my rule and I'm sticking to it. Jerry DeBoer Central Racine County -----Original Message----- From: Tom Sykes <sykes@xxxxxxxxxx> To: Wisbirdn network <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 2:17 pm Subject: [wisb] Re: Yard Lists Hi Bob, Others may have a different take but I believe the general rule of thumb is that ny birds observed while you are physically within the boundary of your yard are ountable as yard birds. When we had a yard defined by property lines we went so ar as to categorize a yard bird as a fly-over, heard only, using a water eature, feeding, or nesting. We also annual logged dates of when a species was irst and last seen in a given calendar year. Now that we're full-time RVers, our definition of a yard has changed to be the ize of the site where our RV (our home) is parked. Suffice to say, our yard ist has grown at a terrific rate as we have traveled and is far more robust han the list we accumulated in our former static yard. There are not many acific Loons, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, or Greater Roadrunners to be seen in ppleton....not even in Daryl's yard! ;-) Tom and Carol Sykes (currently in Las Cruces, NM) ykes@xxxxxxxxxx On Oct 7, 2010, at 9:41 AM, <rcd2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Yard lists are perhaps based on each birder's concept of what constitutes a ard bird. Are there some standard rules? My personal rule has been that a ard bird is one that is seen or heard while one is on the actual yard property. y property is one block from the Village Pond and Lake Oschwald. When I atched the Cackling Geese this morning, I saw them over the air space of my roperty. I have had other similar experiences. I often do cemetery studies at he local cemetery about two blocks from my property. The cemetery is high on a ill and, from there, I am able to see my house. While at the cemetery, I have een various birds (such as a Sharp-shinned Hawk) fly over my house and then ver my head at the cemetery. I have not included any of these species as part f my yard list. Am I being too restrictive? -- Bob Domagalski, St. Nazianz #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding etwork (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: ttp://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: ttp://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. #################### ou received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding etwork (Wisbirdn). o UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: ttp://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. o set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: ttp://www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. isit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.