I think it is amazing that there are nearly 11,000 recognized species of birds in the world. Does that number, perhaps, drive the other numbers in your head? "How many species can I see/find/identify where I live?" Counting wouldn't be fun if there were only five species, even if you could see all five in your backyard.
Absolutely! So many fun ways to count. Yard list, patch list, county, state, country...omg it never ends. This is the fourth house I've kept a yard count at. Great fun. I know quite a few casual birders who really only care about what shows up at their feeders/yard. That was pretty much me in Indiana.
This pipit hate is getting to me haha, I'm quite fond of them. They're often along shorelines which I love exploring for their own sake, and they look kinda cool (sparrow plumage in the superior warbler body). Plus they're the only representative we get of the venerable Motacillidae, which I have fond memories of from the Old World. I don't get to see wagtails regularly, but at least I get pipits a couple times a year!
I like the idea of having an enemy-bird. The reaction I had to seeing my first one was real. I did say "That's it?" but I don't remember why exactly. Maybe I was grumpy it didn't give me a better look after chasing for so long.
Where from the Old World do you come? I loved seeing White Wagtails in Portugal.
Haha fair fair, I'll have to think about what my enemy bird is... I knocked out all of my nemeses in the past 2 years so I don't have those to accuse any more.
I'm from Canada but I've visited Europe and Kenya, I saw wagtails in both places and a couple endemic pipit species in Kenya.
They are pretty shrill! I do find their fake injury thing to be pretty hilarious. They could probably save themselves a lot of trouble if they stopped nesting in places where we walk
I really wasn't a counter either until I got on eBird a few years ago. Before that I was pretty much a yard birder, also just enjoying anything that showed up
I think it is amazing that there are nearly 11,000 recognized species of birds in the world. Does that number, perhaps, drive the other numbers in your head? "How many species can I see/find/identify where I live?" Counting wouldn't be fun if there were only five species, even if you could see all five in your backyard.
Absolutely! So many fun ways to count. Yard list, patch list, county, state, country...omg it never ends. This is the fourth house I've kept a yard count at. Great fun. I know quite a few casual birders who really only care about what shows up at their feeders/yard. That was pretty much me in Indiana.
You mean you aren't keeping a list of all the chipmunks you see??? Missing out
One species, 74 individuals, without leaving the yard
This pipit hate is getting to me haha, I'm quite fond of them. They're often along shorelines which I love exploring for their own sake, and they look kinda cool (sparrow plumage in the superior warbler body). Plus they're the only representative we get of the venerable Motacillidae, which I have fond memories of from the Old World. I don't get to see wagtails regularly, but at least I get pipits a couple times a year!
Thanks for subscribing!!
I like the idea of having an enemy-bird. The reaction I had to seeing my first one was real. I did say "That's it?" but I don't remember why exactly. Maybe I was grumpy it didn't give me a better look after chasing for so long.
Where from the Old World do you come? I loved seeing White Wagtails in Portugal.
Haha fair fair, I'll have to think about what my enemy bird is... I knocked out all of my nemeses in the past 2 years so I don't have those to accuse any more.
I'm from Canada but I've visited Europe and Kenya, I saw wagtails in both places and a couple endemic pipit species in Kenya.
Me too. Maybe it will redeem pipits for me 😂
Any Sprague’s Pipits where you live?
No honestly I forgot they existed... I'll have to make a trip out the the prairies some day to see those and some other grassland specialties.
I never knew Gram & Gramp kept lists of the birds they saw. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading cousin!!! They sure did! I have folders full of checklists and their old field guides. Gramp was pretty meticulous
I’m not a big fan of killdeers. Their call is really annoying to me. I think they are pretty though!
I’m not a counter…yet. I’m just enjoying anything I get the opportunity to see.
That’s another thing!! Nests on the ground; not a great evolutionary process!! 🤣
It's wild how many birds nest on the ground. Must be something working for them I guess...
They are pretty shrill! I do find their fake injury thing to be pretty hilarious. They could probably save themselves a lot of trouble if they stopped nesting in places where we walk
I really wasn't a counter either until I got on eBird a few years ago. Before that I was pretty much a yard birder, also just enjoying anything that showed up