ABA Big Year 2016 (1 Viewer)

[Paul Chapman]

Folks,

Opinions have been various regarding the wildness of the Greylag Goose currently wintering in Rhode Island. The photo that the "clearly domestic" camp seem to refer to seems pretty darn misleading when one looks at other photos. I found the photos in the linked checklist to be pretty encouraging as far as this potentially being a genuine vagrant. What do you all think?(http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33250333)

Andy

Andy

Sorry. It even looks domestic in the flight shot to me. Hopefully the link below is a composite of the eBird photos from a search from the Bird Identification section. For me also the plumage is off - too pallid in the upperwing and too pallid in the flanks.

https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/...region=Rhode Island, United States (US)&user=

I really do not see any way that this bird could realistically be considered to be a wild-type vagrant.

I spent some time looking at photos of Icelandic birds and also my own photos of birds from Europe.

All the best

 

[Maffong]

The more pictures I see, the more domesticated it becomes

 

[Paul Chapman]

The more pictures I see, the more domesticated it becomes

You could probably link it to the feeding bread to wildfowl thread.....

Happy New Year

 

[Captain_of_Crunch]

Per eBird Olaf got the Bluetail Dec 29th so that's 776+2(778)plays 777+4(781)

Wow! With 40 odd hours left, what realistic targets does Olaf have left to tie on 777? A big risk trip to the Aleutians/Alaska for wildfowl?

Does John still have any gaps on the list to put it beyond doubt?

 

[guy_incognito]

Olaf could try for the Graylag, although it does seem consensus is feeling less good about that bird, so probably not worth his time.

There was a Kelp Gull seen on a couple days in Newfoundland, but not reported since the 25th, so that is probably not a great use of time, either.

Make a stab for Whooper Swans in Alaska.

The possible Long-billed Murrelet in Massachusetts doesn't look to have resurfaced.

 

[dantheman]

The possible Long-billed Murrelet in Massachusetts doesn't look to have resurfaced.

How long do they normally dive for?

 

[Nutcracker]

How long do they normally dive for?

A minute or two. But it could get trapped in old fishing gear or suchlike and drown . . .

 

[janinmt]

New blog update from Olaf. Makes me appreciate that we have electricity here in snowy Montana!

http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html

Jan in MT

 

[r_bruce]

Christian got the RI Greylag.

 

[r_bruce]

And John's list is updated.
http://www.birdingfordevils.com/p/this-is-listing-of-species-so-far.html
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
rb

 

[r_bruce]

And John has posted a brief blog entry... http://www.birdingfordevils.com/
It is pretty much over now and a herculean effort it has been. I do know John and I am very proud and pleased with his amazing, phenomenal big year record. It will be interesting to see what 5 January brings. Regardless, it has been an incredible year for the big year birders!
Cheers and again, Happy New Year to you all,
rb

 

[trptjoe]

I've had the great pleasure of being in contact with all four Big Year birders, and I'd like to publicly express my sincere thanks to each of them for the shared experience. The amount of effort expended by each is just astounding, and the fact that the 4th-place finisher broke the old record just leaves me shaking my head.

Not to mention the fun it's been to be a part of this forum. For years I've felt like I'm the only one who cares about this goofy game; instead, I've become part of a far-flung discussion group. All we need is to also be sharing a foamy beverage. Since I'll soon be hoisting one, the first toast will be to Olaf, Laura, John & Christian, and the second to the 2016 Big Year Forum!

I'll be presenting my updated (by then) Big Year presentation to Chicago's Fort Dearborn Audubon Society on January 9th. Rest assured that you'll all be mentioned!
I'll post an updated set of lists after January 5th.

Onward to 2017!

Joe Lill
Chicago, IL

 

[MKinHK]

It has indeed been highly entertaining. A serious Big Year is something I'd love to do one day, maybe in China, but will probably never get the opportunity, so I take my hat off to those who have gone out and done it. I have to say that Olav's blog has easily been my favourite Big Year account, warts and all, and principally because it was not just about the birding, but what it was really like to do a Big Year. I enjoyed the politically incorrect tour of America the positive realities of family life and through it all a magnificent obsession with and enjoyment of the birds, the birders, the birding and the places he went that I suspect connect so many of us.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Mysticete]

I enjoy reading and analyzing big years immensely, and this has been an interesting year. But yeah I don't know if I have the nerves to carry out one myself!

I am guessing no hardcore ABA big years this year, what with Hawaii still in flux. But at least there is the Palearctic one to watch, although I am way less knowledgable about bird distribution, rarity, and travel in that area of the world.

 

[lewis20126]

All quite remarkable - an amazing effort by all four; I feel knackered just reading about it all.

cheers, alan

 

[guy_incognito]

End of the year summary by Olaf.

http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.com/2017/01/2016-year-end-final-thoughts.html

 

[Paul Chapman]

End of the year summary by Olaf.

http://olafsbigyear.blogspot.com/2017/01/2016-year-end-final-thoughts.html

Well as always, simply extraordinary in its true sense.

Joe - looking forward to your final analysis and thank you very much for your updates and insight.

All the best

 

[brd]

I've been loosely following the big year, so I'm familiar with the general storyline and personalities involved, but does anyone know what this, from Johns blog, is referencing? Is there legitimate concern that Olaf padded the numbers? Are there birds that went documented?

It occurs to me that the gentlemanly era of the honour system providing the sole method of evaluating big year birding results has passed, and that alternative methods of evaluation need to be considered going forward. Perhaps in recognition of view, an ABA representative has recently asked the four record-breaking big year birders to submit their end of year lists to the ABA on or before the 4th of January, with an announcement/press release disclosing final scores to be issued from that office the next day – 5 January.

Although I am confident that no one, past or present, has put more effort into an ABA big year, nor comprised a more comprehensive list of legitimate inclusions in their year-list, it doesn’t mean that my tally will prevail as the highest number submitted to the ABA

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've been loosely following the big year, so I'm familiar with the general storyline and personalities involved, but does anyone know what this, from Johns blog, is referencing? Is there legitimate concern that Olaf padded the numbers? Are there birds that went documented?

It is odd isn't it. There is no better scrutiny than contemporaneous public details being produced as the years proceed. It is in short the expectation in the world of the Internet. Noah Strycker and Arjan Dwarhuis set the gold standard in that regard and Olaf was out there throughout. I would expect that the minor controversies along the way that have already been discussed contemporaneously - Philadephia Vireo, Baird's Sparrow, Great Knot, etc - mark the full extent of such things. Olaf's warts and all writing style has grated with some but I see it as naked honesty befitting his personality and natural inclination so I would be very surprised. I suspect John is possibly covering off the odd swipe in his own direction. These are very tight margins and it would only need one or two more birds up Olaf's sleeve but I can't imagine there was any room as he was wearing his heart on it most of the time....

But you can probably track where each of them were in any event.

If the totals are being reviewed, I anticipate that you would start by comparing and logging where and when each individual was at the various locations in comparison to each other and the logistics. I can't imagine that there could be flaws in Olaf's account as surely someone would have noticed at the time?

Even though not all species were photographed, I would have thought the digital footprint on these astounding efforts both financially and photographically would put anything to bed.

Congrats to all four of them.

All the best

 

[pshute]

I've been loosely following the big year, so I'm familiar with the general storyline and personalities involved, but does anyone know what this, from Johns blog, is referencing? Is there legitimate concern that Olaf padded the numbers? Are there birds that went documented?

If that's from John's blog, doesn't it imply that he thinks there's a possibility that his own total may end up lower if ABA officials check his list and reject something? Nothing to do with Olaf's total. He said:

... it doesn’t mean that my tally will prevail as the highest number submitted to the ABA.