2013 and beyond

It's pretty simple: the most birds seen or heard from one's yard during 2013 will be the "winner". Want in? O.k....then do it despite that.

2013 promises to be a lot less mean but still a carbon-free birding competition, even if slightly less exciting than a MEGA x EPIC hybrid.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Top ten list for the Belmont Valley hawkwatch (note the lowercase “h”)


1. Some schmuck counts hawks there and submits data to HMANA

2. It started today!

3. “Valley” is a pretty imaginative description, meant to conjure up a dramatic natural landscape as I’m trying to ignore the crack deals going on down the street

4. Probably will never have consistent enough coverage to generate any decent trend analysis

5. Admission is free!

6. Consistently produces some of the lowest ranking totals of HMANA counts; I think maybe it beats some poor North Carolina site in the spring

7. Swamp Lair smoked the whole Belmont Valley broadwing season in a few half ass hours last fall

8. Has some of the highest unidentified raptor percentages of HMANA count sites, which I like to attribute to careful observation and high, dispersed flights (sling it at me boys!)

9. Probably most interesting for numbers of migrating black vultures, which I’m too lazy to record

And number 10 …

One day a wood stork will fly over

Posted by at

10 comments:

  1. Swamp KatMarch 4, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    Well done. Regarding #8, self-deprecation gets you a pass (this time).

    ReplyDelete
  2. BootsMarch 4, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    I figure I better start now, since I've already been smacked down by Ben

    ReplyDelete
  3. Swamp KatMarch 4, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Lazy Ben? Oh, don't worry about him.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Owl RanchMarch 5, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    Oh booty-call, where to began....
    Perhaps a generally all-around rebuttle is in order.

    1. who cares
    2. unimpressed
    3. I presume the crack is the actual reasoning for your numbers 6-9.
    4. so what- most science is bullshit anyways so just make some shit up!
    5. so's your mom.....
    6. Hmana is so not cool (general lob to our audience in general- ebird, also, not cool)
    7. Hell, I had 1000 BW's go over the Haascienda in a few hours last May 1st.
    8. Natch....
    9. unimpressive, a real counter tallies EVERYTHING!
    10. Your would-be WOST can bite my actually happened Swainson's Hawk's ass

    that should cover it

    ReplyDelete
  5. Swamp KatMarch 9, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    Skye, is that you? Or did someone steal your identity?

    ReplyDelete
  6. BootsMarch 9, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    Haas, turn your tone down a notch.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Owl RanchMarch 10, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    But Booty-call...

    I meant no offense! I was just trying to make you new guys feel comfortable.....

    I wouldn't want you to feel left out as I comment on the douche-baggery of Caleb or the epically poor birding skills of Ben or the hot date that Fitzy's mom truly is

    just remember this credo for yard-blogging- its one I grew up with in Motown
    "dont' bring a knife to a gunfight"

    peace yo

    ReplyDelete
  8. BootsMarch 10, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    you'll get your share of laughs at my expense soon enough when my yardlist starts to stagger uphill after spring migration (or sooner)

    it's hard to bluff when everyone can see your cards (i.e. all time yard list)...

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Owl RanchMarch 11, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    my yard totals is simply a measurement of how much I bird elsewhere as opposed to the losers who live on their roof in springtime. Come back for a new zinger when you cross the 3 digit mark in species....

    With love

    ~The Owl Ranch

    ReplyDelete
  10. Swamp KatMarch 12, 2011 at 7:46 AM

    Get a room...

    ReplyDelete

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