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ABA Big Year 2017 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Paul Chapman
- Start date
At least a two-day wonder, as a couple birders got it the next day.
The Deans got the White-cheeked Pintail today.
I got the Illinois Barnacle Goose today (my first ever), but we in the Land of Lincoln need to wait as our state committee has not yet accepted any record for the species. Hey, but it's in the bank!
Joe
The Deans got the White-cheeked Pintail today.
I got the Illinois Barnacle Goose today (my first ever), but we in the Land of Lincoln need to wait as our state committee has not yet accepted any record for the species. Hey, but it's in the bank!
Joe
guy_incognito
Well-known member
The Citrine Wagtail proved to be unchaseable, unless you lived close and went for it right away on Saturday morning.
A couple of interesting recent posts on John Weigel's webpage: http://www.birdingfordevils.com/
A couple of interesting recent posts on John Weigel's webpage: http://www.birdingfordevils.com/
As John Weigel has posted, the Recording Standards Committee of the American Birding Association has reached a final decision, and, as it turns out, the Hawaii clock started last November, when the ABA officially added Hawaii to the ABA Area. John, Olaf and Laura are officially in the New ABA game. I'll continue to keep my two sets of sheets: the New ABA, with 750 being the minimum number, and the Continental ABA, where 700 will continue to be the standard. Current Big Years will be included until the year is complete. I'll bet there are people chomping at the bit waiting for January 1, 2018, so that their Big Year can commence!
Updated sheets, with Yve's White-cheeked Pintail, attached.
Joe
Updated sheets, with Yve's White-cheeked Pintail, attached.
Joe
Sidewinder
Well-known member
All's quiet at the moment; wonder if someone is contemplating a return trip to Hawaii, where some mop-up might be had.
The Stolls sent their updates. They've added three species in the New ABA:
Garganey
Barnacle Goose
Nazca Booby
So Ruben & Victor are at 811+3.
Yve is at 810+4.
Unofficially (with provisionals), Laura, Ruben, Victor and Yve all have 814!
The Stolls also added Red-footed Booby for the Continental ABA (they had it previously in Hawaii), so here's the Continental scoreboard:
Laura-762
Ruben & Victor-757+3
Yve-754+4
Setting up for a photo finish, I think!
Joe
Garganey
Barnacle Goose
Nazca Booby
So Ruben & Victor are at 811+3.
Yve is at 810+4.
Unofficially (with provisionals), Laura, Ruben, Victor and Yve all have 814!
The Stolls also added Red-footed Booby for the Continental ABA (they had it previously in Hawaii), so here's the Continental scoreboard:
Laura-762
Ruben & Victor-757+3
Yve-754+4
Setting up for a photo finish, I think!
Joe
There is now an official statement about the 2016 Big Year birders on the ABA blog:
http://blog.aba.org/2017/12/2016-big-year-competition.html
Joe
http://blog.aba.org/2017/12/2016-big-year-competition.html
Joe
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Paul Chapman
Well-known member
Joe
OK. It is late and Joe Root's dismissal has right royally p#ssed me off but all a bit confusing.
First round voting - 5-1 against Hawaii because communications clear and Hawaii only an issue because of an attempt by Big Year birders to 'game' the Rule Book.
Second round voting - 6-0 for Hawaii because confusion remained and negative feedback so tie goes to the birder.
I can't recall any confusion at the time on whether Hawaii could be included. Indeed the opposite:-
http://blog.aba.org/2016/11/the-aba-adds-hawaii-now-what.html
Edit - Alastair Cook's double century cheered me up!
All the best
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Greg Neise asked me to post this for him:
From Greg Neise, Staff Liaison, ABA Recording Standards & Ethics Committee:
At the time of the original vote, the committee felt that it was clear—from our point of view—that big year birders in 2016 would not include Hawaii. Our main reason for this was with the 2016 big year birders in mind. We thought that the last thing they would want is for Hawaii to be "thrown in" midstream. This decision was made by us in September, after they were already ¾ of the way through their efforts.
After the first round of voting, however, we heard from the birders, and they explained how it was from their point of view at the time … which, needless to say, was quite different from ours.
With this new information, the committee held another round of voting--and in following RSEC’s general philosophy: decisions that involve the well-being of the bird, tie goes to the bird; decisions that involve a listing rule, tie goes to the birder—which reached a unanimous decision to allow Hawaii additions to be counted as provisionals for 2016.
From Greg Neise, Staff Liaison, ABA Recording Standards & Ethics Committee:
At the time of the original vote, the committee felt that it was clear—from our point of view—that big year birders in 2016 would not include Hawaii. Our main reason for this was with the 2016 big year birders in mind. We thought that the last thing they would want is for Hawaii to be "thrown in" midstream. This decision was made by us in September, after they were already ¾ of the way through their efforts.
After the first round of voting, however, we heard from the birders, and they explained how it was from their point of view at the time … which, needless to say, was quite different from ours.
With this new information, the committee held another round of voting--and in following RSEC’s general philosophy: decisions that involve the well-being of the bird, tie goes to the bird; decisions that involve a listing rule, tie goes to the birder—which reached a unanimous decision to allow Hawaii additions to be counted as provisionals for 2016.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Sounds like eminent good sense to me!
John
John
Paul Chapman
Well-known member
Indeed and bold of them to reverse their decision. :clap:
(No confusion necessary - "despite the ABA’s best efforts, ample room for confusion remained for the 2016 Big Year participants".)
All the best
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Victor Stoll found it and got everyone else (including Yve, the Deans and John Vanderpoel) on the bird!
Blue Bunting won't help the Stolls, who already have it.
As of today:
New ABA
Laura - 814
Yve - 813+4
Ruben & Victor - 813+3
Gaylee - 745+2
Richard - 743+2
Continental ABA
Laura - 762
Ruben & Victor - 759+3
Yve - 757+4
Gaylee - 745+2
Richard - 743+2
Joe
Blue Bunting won't help the Stolls, who already have it.
As of today:
New ABA
Laura - 814
Yve - 813+4
Ruben & Victor - 813+3
Gaylee - 745+2
Richard - 743+2
Continental ABA
Laura - 762
Ruben & Victor - 759+3
Yve - 757+4
Gaylee - 745+2
Richard - 743+2
Joe
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Sidewinder
Well-known member
It will be interesting to learn whether the Blue Bunting can even be searched for today, as Quinta Mazatlan is normally closed on Sundays and Mondays.
EDIT: I think the year has come to an end. Yves writes, "It’s only fitting that Ruben Stoll, Victor and I got our last 2 birds together," referring to the Great Skua and Loggerhead Kingbird.
EDIT: I think the year has come to an end. Yves writes, "It’s only fitting that Ruben Stoll, Victor and I got our last 2 birds together," referring to the Great Skua and Loggerhead Kingbird.
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She certainly gave it a shot! No luck, though. The numbers above should be final until the provisionals are accepted (or not). Yve Morrell is the winner of the 2017 ABA Big Year competition, and Ruben & Victor Stoll take home the trophy for the 2017 Continental ABA category (there's a trophy?). Gaylee and Richard Dean made it an unprecedented year, with five birders topping 700 for the first time (Continental version), not to mention the fact that they all topped 740!
Somewhere, this very morning, there are birders taking aim at both records. Whether continental ABA Big Years remain relevant remains to be seen, but one thing's for certain: we'll be watching!
Joe Lill
Chicago, IL
Somewhere, this very morning, there are birders taking aim at both records. Whether continental ABA Big Years remain relevant remains to be seen, but one thing's for certain: we'll be watching!
Joe Lill
Chicago, IL
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