Tennessee Birders by the Numbers: 2017 (Vol. 13)
Welcome to the Tennessee Birders by the Numbers (TBN) report for 2017. 2017 was
again a fantastic year for birders in Tennessee and this report like those of
the last few years will also include data from the new year, 2018, up to the
present. This year's TBN is a little truncated as professional activities
limited my time. As a result the only information in the miscellaneous category
at the end of the report is the All Time Total Ticks list.
I. TN List (top 50)
We begin with the TN list, and this year I incorporate the ebird list into the
ABA list resulting in a combined list (the most recent numbers were used when
there were differences). Note that I will continue to do this in subsequent
year so let me know if your numbers are mistaken.
1. 387 Jeff Wilson 2. 374 Michael Todd3. 371 Mark Greene4. 369 Daniel
Jacobson5. 360 Clyde Blum6. 356 Terry Witt7. 353 David Chaffin8. 350 Kevin
Calhoon9. 343 Tommie Rogers10. 341 Rick Knight13-t. 339 Gail and Steve
Clendenen13-t. 339 Ron Hoff and Dollyann Myers13-t. 339 Ruben Stoll14. 335
Francis Fekel15. 332 Phillip Casteel16. 331 Victor Stoll18-t. 329 Damien
Simbeck18-t. 329 Christopher Sloan19. 326 Rick Waldrop20. 323 David
Kirschke22-t. 321 James Brooks22-t. 321 Beth Schilling23. 316 Ken Oeser24. 314
Scott Somershoe25. 313 Morton Massey27-t. 312 Thomas McNeil27-t. 312 Alan
Troyer28. 311 Stephen Zipperer29. 309 Kevin Breault30. 307 David Trently31. 304
Chris Agee32. 303 Richard Preston33. 302 Susan McWhirter34. 298 John
O'Barr36-t. 296 Chloe Walker36-t. 296 Rack Cross37. 291 Joshua Stevenson40-t.
290 Rick Houlk40-t. 290 Nolan Walker40-t. 290 Rick Shipkowski42-t. 289 Edmund
LeGrand42-t. 289 Stephen Stedman43. 288 Mike O'Malley45-t 286 Gail King45-t 286
Cynthia Routledge46. 285 Michael Smith47. 284 Bill Pulliam48. 283 Gary
Brunvoll50-t.282 Mac McWhirter50-t 282 Darrel Wilder
II. TN Birders on State/Province Lists
Many TN Birders are on the lists for other states and provinces and with the
removal of the ABA threshold we get a better picture of TN birding. The
following list includes TN birders by the number of state/provinces in which
they reported lists. Also included are the state/province abbreviations for
those TN birders who are first among TN birders on these lists. And the
state/province abbreviations that are in parentheses are ones where the birder
has achieved 50% on the state/province. So for example, David Chaffin has
reported lists in 62 state/provinces, is the leading birder in 12
states/provinces, and in 10 has achieved at least 50%. Note that Hawaii is
included because it is now in the ABA Area. Note that TN birders have achieved
the majority of birds in 36 different states and provinces. Quite impressive!
Major changes from last year: David Chaffin, Ron Hoff, Mike O'Malley, and
Francis Fekel are now the number one TN birders in IN, AB, HI, and NJ,
respectively, and the list of TN birders adding states (in part because HI is
now in the ABA area) includes: David Chaffin, Rick Waldrop, Ron Hoff, Dollyann
Myers, Steve Clendenen, Ken Oeser, Gail Clendenen, Mike O'Malley, Michael Todd,
Francis Fekel, Stephen Zipperer, John O'Barr, and Joshua Stevenson.
1. David Chaffin (62 state/provinces), (AK), (CA), DC, (IN), (KY), (ME), (MI)
(OK), (SD), (WV), NB, YT2. Kevin Breault (60), CT, ID, (IL), MA, MT, NH, NV,
NY, OR, RI, UT, (VT), WI, WY, BC, (MB), NS, ON, PE, PQ, SK4-t. Ron Hoff (58),
AB4-t. Rick Waldrop (58), (GA), (MD), (MN), (ND), (VA)5. Dollyann Myers (55)6.
Ken Oeser (53)7. Gail and Steve Clendenen (50) (AZ for Gail)8. Mike O'Malley
(40), HI9. David Trently (39), (PA), NF10. Scott Somershoe (35), (CO)11. Gail
King (33)13-t. Tommie Rogers (31), DE, (FL), (IA), (KS), (MO), (NE), WA13-t.
Michael Todd (31)14. Francis Fekel (26), (NJ)15. Kevin Calhoon (24), (NM),
(OH), (SC)16. Stephen Zipperer (19)17. Rick Shipkowski (18)18. John O'Barr
(15)19. Joshua Stevenson (11)20. Thomas McNeil (9)21. Clyde Blum (8)22. Darrel
Wilder (7)23. Jeff Wilson (6), (AL), (AR), (MS), (TN)25-t. Mark Greene (5)25-t.
Rick Knight (5), (LA), (NC), (TX)26. Rack Cross (3)
Finally, I note again that no TN birder is on the lists for Northwestern
Territories, Nunavut, and St. Pierre et Miquelon (if I continue to say this it
is because I really want to get to St. Pierre et Miquelon soon!), and yes that
means there are now 65 state/province listing areas.
III. The following are our TN birders on the ABA Continental list, including
totals and ranks in the top 100. Note the new name: ABA Continental. The ABA
Continental list = the ABA Area list without Hawaii. As you may know the ABA
Area now includes Hawaii. I included only the ABA Continental list on the TBN
this year as only 209 birders are on the ABA Area list now as opposed to the
ABA Continental with almost 1,100. Note that I made some changes to the list to
be consistent with what we know, but birders should include their totals on
both lists.
1. Benton Bashman 881 (4)2. David Chaffin 845 (14)3. Dollyann Myers 795 (62)4.
Tommie Rogers 783 (81)5. Kevin Calhoon 778 (88)6. Rick Waldrop 7477. Clyde Blum
7408. Gail and Steve Clendenen 7339. Rick Knight 71810. Ron Hoff 71111. Ken
Oeser 70913-t. Kevin Breault 70613-t. Darrel Wilder 70614. Michael Todd 70415.
Terry Witt 69216. Rick Shipkowski 64817. David Trently 63218. Francis Fekel
61519. Gail King 60720. Mike O'Malley 60521. Scott Somershoe 60322. Thomas
McNeil 54723. Gary Brunvoll 53124. Stephen Zipperer 40925. John O'Barr 332
Increases this year included David Chaffin from 824 to 845, Kevin Calhoon
776-778, Gail and Steve Clendenen 727-733, Ron Hoff 689-711, Ken Oeser 688-709,
Darrel Wilder 704-706, Kevin Breault 701-706, Terry Witt 683-692, Rick
Shipkowski 635-648, Mike O'Malley 593-605, Thomas McNeil 546-547, Gary Brunvoll
514-531, Stephen Zipperer 401-409, and John O'Barr 328-332. Congratulations to
Ron Hoff and Ken Oeser for both getting to 700, and Mike O'Malley for gettng to
600!
IV. Canada
After a few years without TN birders going north we had several this year.
1. David Chaffin 3322. Kevin Breault 3313. Rick Waldrop 2634. Ron Hoff 259 (up
from 218)5. Dollyann Myers 2366. Kevin Calhoon 1457. Mike O'Malley 106 (from
96)8. David Trently 929. Ken Oeser 85 (new to the list)10. Gary Brunvoll 74
(new to the list)11. Scott Somershoe 6012. Gail King 23
V. Lower Forty-Eight
Of course this list includes all states with the exception of Alaska and
Hawaii. Our leaders for 2017 are David Chaffin at 769, Tommie Rogers at 761,
Kevin Calhoon 755 (up two over last year), Gail and Steve Clendenen 733 (up
six), Rick Waldrop 732, and Clyde Blum 716.
VI. United States
Our leaders here are: David Chaffin at 850, Dollyann Myers 827, Kevin Calhoon
810, Clyde Blumm 777, and Tommie Rodgers 776.
VII. AOU North
The AOU stands for the American Ornithological Union, established in 1883, and
the AOU North is covered by the AOU checklist of North American birds,
including North and Central America. This year our leaders are: Rick Waldrop
with 1732 and a rank of 7, followed by Kevin Calhoon 1285, David Chaffin 1282,
Clyde Blum 1040, and Gary Brunvoll 1021.
VIII. AOU South
Little change from last year with Rick Waldrop at 2314 and a rank of 12
followed by Gary Brunvoll with 752, Gail King with 750, and David Chaffin at
525.
IX. Mexico
Little change on this year too with Dollyann Myers at 732 and a rank of 26,
followed by Clyde Blum with 685 (rank of 35), with Gail King at 660, Gary
Brunvoll 591, Ron Hoff 579 and Rick Waldrop 567.
X. Central America
Here Rick Waldrop leads with 909 (rank of 10), followed by Ron Hoff 714 (up a
strong 84 birds), Dollyann Myers 693, Terry Witt 617, and David Trently 606.
XI. West Indies & Caribbean
Rick Waldrop leads here too with 306, followed by Kevin Calhoon with 200,
Dollyann Myers at 195, and Ron Hoff with 183 (up 26).
XII. Europe & Western Paleartic
Again the leader here is Rick Waldrop with 362, followed by Dollyann Myers 208,
Ron Hoff at 192, and David Chaffin with 186.
XIII. Asia
Ron Hoff leads here with 1876 (up 11) and a rank of 11, followed by Dollyann
Myers at 1827, and Terry Witt with 1494.
XIV. World
As I have noted before this to me is the most important of bird lists. Dollyann
leads with 8296 (up 151) rank of 7 (up one), Ron Hoff 8252 (up 158) rank of 8
(up one), Terry Witt 6476, Rick Waldrop 5243. The overall leader this year:
Claes-Goran Cederlund at 9411, a Swedish physician.
XV. North America
Rick Waldrop has a great rank of 5 with 1756 birds, followed by Dollyann Myers
at 1531, Ron Hoff 1485 (up 154), Terry Witt 1331, and David Chaffin 1309.
XVI. South America
Dollyann and Ron have 2524 and 2522, respectively, with ranks of 13 and 14.
Rick Waldrop is at 2451 and a rank of 19, followed by Terry Witt with 2078.
XVII. Africa
Ron Hoff has 1660 and Dollyann 1658, followed by Terry Witt with 1287.
XVIII. Australasia
Here Dollyann and Ron have 987 and 985 birds, respectively, and ranks of 5 and
6.
XIX. Eurasia
Ron has 2084 (up 13), followed by Dollyann 2058, Terry Witt 1585, Rick Waldrop
1103, and David Chaffin 932.
XX. Atlantic Ocean
Mike O'Malley remains best with 66 birds (rank of 24), followed by Dollyann
Myers and Ron Hoff at 36 and 24.
XXI. Pacific Ocean
Here Dollyann has 416 and Ron 403 with ranks of 19 and 21, followed by Francis
Fekel at 160 and Rick Waldrop 118.
XXII. Indian Ocean
Ron continues with a fine rank of 3 with 250 birds, followed by Dollyann with
241 and a rank of 7.
XXIII. South Polar Region
Mike O'Malley is tops with 25 birds (rank of 73), followed by Kevin Calhoon
with 24, Dollyann Mysers 20, and Ron Roff with 19.
XXIV. Millennium
This list includes all the birders who have been the most active in the ABA
Area since the century began (specifically this is the ABA Area list for the
21st century). First is Clyde Blum with 714 birds and a rank of 17, followed by
Gail Clendenen with 701, Steven Clenenden of 700, Michael Todd with 672, David
Chaffin at 663, Kevin Breault 653 (up 18), and Mike O'Malley 585 (up 183).
XXV. Photographed ABA Area Continental
Mike Todd leads with 668 (rank of 25), followed by Kevin Calhoon 661 (up
seven), Tommie Rogers 640, Ken Oeser 615, Clyde Blum 602, Ron Hoff 546 (up 35),
and Mike O'Malley 474 (up 48).
XXVI. Photographed World
Ron Hoff has his wonderful rank of 2 with 4590 birds (up 326!), followed by
Kevin Calhoon 2003 (up 495!), Chris Sloan with 1794, Gary Brunvoll 1586, Mike
Todd 1431, Ken Oeser 897, Mike O'Malley 626, Rick Waldrop 291, and John O'Barr
284.
XXVII. World Families
Dollyann Myers and Ron Hoff are the leaders here with 232 families and a rank
of 19, followed by Rick Waldrop with 166. The highest rank has 247 families (up
8).
XXVIII. All Territories and Provinces
This list is quite similar to the Total Ticks list immediately below and
combines all the territories/provinces in Canada. Kevin Breault leads here with
1379 (rank of 18), followed by David Chaffin 1073 (rank of 24), Rick Waldrop
with 594, Mike O'Malley with 130, and David Trently with 92.
XXIX. Total Ticks
The main focus of my birding for 46 years now (yikes!), Kevin Breault leads
with a rank of 3 and 12243 birds (up 286), followed by David Chaffin 11746
(rank of 4 and up 14), Rick Waldrop 9048, Dollyann Myers 7729, Ron Hoff 6911
(up 155), Ken Oeser 5973 (up 613!), David Trently 5202 Gail Clendenen 4988 (up
231), Steve Clendenen (up 229), Michael Todd 3839, Mike O'Malley 3400, Rick
Shipkowski 2325, Stephen Zippered 1385 (up 260), and John O'Barr 926 (up 122).
XXX. Canadian Provinces/Territories
Eleven TN birders (up three) are on the lists for 11 of 14 Canadian Provinces
and Territories: Kevin Breault, David Chaffin, Gail and Steve Clendenen,
Francis Fekel, Ron Hoff, Dollyann Myers, Ken Oeser, Mike O'Malley, David
Trently, and Rick Waldrop. Kevin Breault leads in British Columbia, Manitoba,
Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island, David
Chaffin leads in New Brunswick and Yukon Territories, Ron Hoff now leads in
Alberta, and David Trently leads in New Foundland & Labrador. As noted above no
TN birders is on the lists for Northwest Territories, Nunavut and St. Pierre et
Miquelon. And the latter is just a small ferry ride away from New Foundland &
Labrador! And as noted in previous TBNs Manitoba and Saskatchewan are among the
easiest places to bird in the ABA area (easy in the sense of getting to 50%) as
they are central Canadian provinces with fewer rare birds.
XXXI. Annual Lists
On the ABA Area Continental list Ken Oeser got 493 birds for a rank of 11, and
David Chafin got 316 for a rank of 28. Ken Oeser also had 1656 Total Ticks for
2017, which I believe puts him at 8th on the all time Annual Total Ticks list.
HUGE! These totals include the highest annual Total Ticks in ABA history.
Perhaps next year I'll update the All Time Annual Total Ticks list. An older
version can be found on my biographical profile on the ABA website. Ken
currently ranks 60 on the Total Ticks list with 5973.
XXXII. Annual List for Tennessee
Ken Oeser led with 218, followed by Francis Fekel 208, David Chaffin 183,
Joshua Stevenson 176, C. Allen Hooks 56, and Michael Stewart 48.
XXXIII. Miscellaneous: All Time Total Ticks list.
A. With limited time this year I offer the All Time Total Ticks list (top 25).
I had said I would do this last year but somehow forget.This list may also be
found in my biographical profile on the ABA website (but needs updating).
1. 18,271 Paul Lehman2. 15,760 Deuane Hoffman3. 15,594 Kenneth Ward4. 14,500
Mike Resch5. 13,594 Thomas Heatley6. 12,990 Jon Dunn7. 12,243 Kevin Breault8.
12,209 Cecil Kersting9. 11,746 David Chaffin10. 11,384 Leif Anderson11. 11,262
Richard Rosch12. 11,253 Jeffrey Sanders13. 10,921 Stephen Dinsmore14. 10,468
JPat Valentik15. 10,403 James Beard16. 10,177 Frank Bumgardner17. 10,138 Robin
Cater18. 9,946 Bernard Morris19. 9,781 Don Chalfant20. 9,679 Karl Overman21.
9,588 Caroline Eastman22. 9,449 Edwin Smith23. 9,387 Kenneth Brock24. 9,364
Kent Davis25. 9,328 Robert Walton
That's it for Vol. 13 of TBN. Best of luck for 2018! I apologize in advance for
any errors. Many numbers and calculations were involved. If I've made a mistake
let me know and I'll make the change next year. And if I've made a big mistake
I'll email the group asap.
Not the best year for me, and while I am too old (I'm a realist), I don't seem
to be slowing down too much yet. Professional activities, the day (and
sometimes night) job, keeps me from the fun stuff, and getting to #6 on the All
Time Total Ticks list (above) seems increasingly distant. I did manage to get
to 15 states this year, and ended up with 286 Total Ticks (includes all 2017 &
2018 so far). Last year was 484, the previous year 556. Disappointing to be
sure. Hopes for this year? The only trip that appears to be a sure thing at
this point is one to LA (Louisiana) and TX during spring migration. Other ideas
seem to be vanishing as some of my free time will need to include getting my
daughter situated out-of-state for her medical education. But, of course,
personal and family responsibilities should come first. Speaking of that, when
birders go into the field they bring all kinds of equipment with them,
binoculars, scopes, tripods, often cameras these days, clothing that is
appropriate, phones, Deet, tape recorders, and what am I forgetting? Ah yes, we
bring ourselves, this most personal equipment. I know that I will never get to
#6 if I am not responsible for myself. I was recently interviewed about the
life expectancy of minorities in poor areas (I'm a social epidemiologist).
Depending on the area, African Americans can expect to live 5, 10, even 15
years less than whites. What to do, I was asked? The answer from an individual
or family point of view (not a policy or society view for which the requisite
politics are not available) is education, education that will help you move up
the economic ladder and move spatially to areas that do not have what we call
"structural violence"--the harm that poverty, inequality and racism causes.
While birders tend to be in a different economic category education is still
the key. My advice is to spend as much time on your most personal equipment as
you do on the others. You will reduce your chances for morbidity and mortality,
or as I told the reporter, "education will save you life".
As always you can't list your ABA totals unless you are a member of the
American Birding Association (www.americanbirding.org). It is still quite
affordable and you get a great deal with the magazine, "Birding," the new
magazine called the "Birders Guide" series that takes on a specific topic in
significant detail every issue (travel gear, listing/taxonomy, etc.), and a
much better interactive site for list.
Always be good to birds and generous to birders of all stripes, totals and
ranks, including yourself! Good birding and good totaling!
Kevin BreaultBrentwood, TN
mtweb.mtsu.edu/kbreault/ (sorry still not fully updated)
