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.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Hats off to Caleb!

Awesome work you mankini-bearing tell-all extra-ordinary yard birder from just north of Kent County (I added all that so folks wouldn't confuse you with the DuBrurine kid)!  Serious, nice work educating us of what a yard trump is all about.

I'm keen on keeping the love moving forward in 2013 -- I'll still be straddling 2 yards as I continue work on our homesteads - though I intend to exercise my riparian rights at the Chase House now that Lake Michigan has receded a MILE from the ordinary high water mark.

I'd also like to clean up a few gaps for the Swamp Lair like Scarlet Tanager, White-winged Scoter, Mourning Warbler and I'm sure a few others.

I'd also recommend that we simplify the record keeping now that eBird is so central to our lives -- I hate entering data more than once.  Anyway the spreadsheet could be updated automatically?  I say we keep track of totals on the front page (year and life) and leave everything else optional....

Onward.

3 comments:

  1. Scarlet Tanager? No kidding? You have Yellow Rail, but not Scarlet Tanager?!?!?!

    Btw, I'm in for 2013.

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  2. Thanks Kat- I could have never imagined I could compete with the fierce feline of the north, and still can't believe I did.

    As for next year, I have new digs imminent and would definitely play a role if someone else takes the leadership role. And I promise, this time there is no way I can outdo myself in 2012- I promise. (= no waterfowl potential)

    Finally, Zachary DeBruine informed me that someone would have to write an advanced API script (terminology) to do that eBird data mine to automatically update the score. Not sure how much work would be involved, or the amount of time he'd be willing to put toward it. I agree that would help things a lot.

    Feliz ano neuvo, muchachos!

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  3. get the DeBruine boy on task...snap, snap. leadership role - give me a break - it's a blog not an army.

    JD - glad you are still alive - maybe it's just your yard that died....

    Bring it on!

    ReplyDelete

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