ABA Big Year 2016 (1 Viewer)

[brd]

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:

The highest number submitted means that someone will submit a higher number to the ABA, ie before they review it. At least, that's how I read it.

It really was a big year for the ages, but I was thinking how frustrating it must a be for all four of them. Like Christian getting 750: any other year it's a remarkable new record, this year it's not even a podium finish. And then, of course, the scrum at the top... Interested to see John's explanation of it in a few days, as it obviously seems like something he's peeved enough about to unload.

 

[Mysticete]

My interpretation of John's post was more his general...annoyance? disappointment? etc., with how his big year was covered. Over the course of the year he had a not terribly pleasant rivalry with Olaf, with the latter accusing him of cheating. And the general "peanut gallery" comments from us (and by us I include myself) casting concern over specific records or the fact he mostly kept quiet for a good chunk of the year, didn't use ebird, etc.

The ABA has never gone through and reviewed big years record by record. They have always accepted numbers using the honor system (a change in doing so would probably requirement listing committee to agree upon and vote on a new rule, which we would have heard about). Almost certainly they want the numbers simply to write up an article about it in a future birding article. If John thinks that the ABA is going to "cheat" him of a win, that just means he doesn't actually know the ABA/North American birding very well.

He could also be suggesting that Olaf is going to massage his numbers and cheat, although that seems unlikely

 

[trptjoe]

I agree; the crux seemed to be the plover, along with some gull sightings. He made a special trip to "clean up" the plover (and other species, too), which would be darned irritating is you truly believed you already had the bird.

Joe

 

[Paul Chapman]

I can appreciate John's annoyance. He seemed genuinely shocked when a tactic that he considered legitimate because he had seen it in a film (going under the radar) was something that some (including me) disliked. In addition, the majority warmed to Olaf's bizarre nature. Then the ABA pulled the rug from underneath him and a total which could have stood forever became an historical footnote because of the addition of Hawaii from 1st January. To cap it all off, despite John having won the official competition, Olaf made his total relevant going forward by setting an unofficial total early by getting to Hawaii and ended the year dancing naked with friends on the beach in the sun of the Caribbean whilst John is sounding upset with the world.....

If anything, it is a better book and film than the first one!!!

All the best

 

[r_bruce]

John has a new interim blog entry... http://www.birdingfordevils.com/

(John is far from "upset with the world"... and he has done us proud).
Cheers,
rb

 

[Paul Chapman]

John has a new interim blog entry... http://www.birdingfordevils.com/

(John is far from "upset with the world"... and he has done us proud).
Cheers,
rb

Good. An astonishing achievement even without the additional two. It would have been a real shame if it had left him feeling bitter.

All the best

 

[Mysticete]

I can appreciate John's annoyance. He seemed genuinely shocked when a tactic that he considered legitimate because he had seen it in a film (going under the radar) was something that some (including me) disliked. In addition, the majority warmed to Olaf's bizarre nature. Then the ABA pulled the rug from underneath him and a total which could have stood forever became an historical footnote because of the addition of Hawaii from 1st January. To cap it all off, despite John having won the official competition, Olaf made his total relevant going forward by setting an unofficial total early by getting to Hawaii and ended the year dancing naked with friends on the beach in the sun of the Caribbean whilst John is sounding upset with the world.....

If anything, it is a better book and film than the first one!!!

All the best

Did the majority warm to Olaf? I can't say I was rooting for either of the top two folks. Laura and Christian were the only folks I was rooting for. I have to admit being mildly amused at Hawaii joining the ABA because John and Olaf can be dethroned without waiting for another decade of taxonomic changes and introduced species being added to make "the game" competitive again.

Olaf's will of course be the new "test" yardstick, but I don't think it will last that long. I think someone with more investment in Hawaiian pelagics or who can work out the access problems to Midway, etc. can edge him out.

 

[wimvdam]

Here is a CALBIRDS post by Paul Lehman on the ABA-tickability of the Red-footed Booby

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CALBIRDS/conversations/messages/12964

Paul Lehman [CALBIRDS] the Red-footed Booby status

The Red-footed Booby is still present on the New Seaforth at the Seaforth Sportfishing dock in Mission Bay as of 5:45 AM Tuesday, according to Barbara Carlson et al. The boat is scheduled to go fishing most days, and the bird is frequenting other fishing boats as well the past few days. This is presumed to be the same bird that was found weak at the time and was caught on a boat near the entrance of San Diego Bay (in Shelter Island Yacht Basin area) back in around October. It was taken to Sea World, where was it was rehabbed for a couple months, and then released off Point Loma about a week ago. However, we are still awaiting confirmation given there are no obvious bands, etc, although the plumage appears very similar, and the behavior matches! So, then this brings up the question of the bird passing the "smell test" re: countability. It was kept in captivity for a long time and then released at a site somewhat different from where it was found. And certainly the bird is currently here doing what its doing only as a result of this manipulated experience. But on the other hand, the American Birding Association recently passed a "rule" that such released rehabbed birds are "countable," even if at sites different from where found. Whether or not one thinks this is a sane rule or not, that is now the listing protocol if you follow the ABA. So, everyone is free to make their own decision--which is really the case anyway!!

--Paul Lehman, San Diego

Wim
Solvang, CA

 

[Paul Chapman]

Wim

It has to be countable for these purposes. The entire ABA Big Year approach is about the rules - frustratingly to those (including me) who don't understand some of them such as not updating for taxonomy!

Interesting dilemma though - albeit sadly not one I face.....

All the best

 

[Farnboro John]

Did the majority warm to Olaf? I can't say I was rooting for either of the top two folks. Laura and Christian were the only folks I was rooting for. I have to admit being mildly amused at Hawaii joining the ABA because John and Olaf can be dethroned without waiting for another decade of taxonomic changes and introduced species being added to make "the game" competitive again.

Olaf's will of course be the new "test" yardstick, but I don't think it will last that long. I think someone with more investment in Hawaiian pelagics or who can work out the access problems to Midway, etc. can edge him out.

IDK (as the saying goes in the Olaf universe) about the majority, but I did. After a shaky start while I got used to his writing style I thoroughly enjoyed his approach to his birds, his fulminations about hire cars and airlines, his descriptions of disaster and triumph (and treating both those imposters just the same.)

Somehow I don't think I'm going to buy any of his books though.

John

 

[Dave Ball]

Somehow I don't think I'm going to buy any of his books though.

John

Just so long as there's no video of the New Years Eve dancing.

 

[pandrew1664]

I agree; the crux seemed to be the plover, along with some gull sightings. He made a special trip to "clean up" the plover (and other species, too), which would be darned irritating is you truly believed you already had the bird.

Joe

Yes. And by nature John is a true believer. But he doubled up because he thought the sandplover would be a tough one to get through a record appraisal committee and he didn't want undocumented or unreviewed vagrants on his list.

Regarding the two 'lists', continental North America and 50 States, better wait for the Fat Lady ...

 

[Mysticete]

This year seems like a potentially good year to do an ABA big year, Hawaii limbo aside. Florida I think has the grand slam of Bahama rarities (Bananaquit, La Sagra's Flycatcher, Western Spindalis, and I think a Thick-billed Vireo is still around), while St. Paul has the first "continental" record of Black Kite (Hawaii has had past records).

 

[r_bruce]

It is official http://blog.aba.org/2017/01/2016-aba-big-year-results.html

And a blog entry from the new record holder http://www.birdingfordevils.com/
Cheers,
rb

 

[Paul Chapman]

Odd that John has not swept up Smith's Longspur yet. I reckon that he has been doing Hawaii.

And so it came to pass:-

It is official http://blog.aba.org/2017/01/2016-aba-big-year-results.html

And a blog entry from the new record holder http://www.birdingfordevils.com/

An astonishing achievement. Congratulations. A real shame that the number includes that comedy Greylag Goose.

All the best

 

[Mysticete]

Oh crap...John Went to Hawaii and did even better than Olaf (838 new ABA compared to Olaf's 832). Olaf doesn't even get to the conciliation prize oh creating a benchmark goal for future big year birders. That really does suck

 

[guy_incognito]

Indeed, someone could have a nice start to the new year.

Nutting's Flycatcher, Rose-throated Becard and Streak-backed Oriole in Arizona. Amazon Kingfisher in Texas. Bananaquit and possibly Western Spindalis continuing in Florida (don't think the La Sagra's Flycatcher or Thick-billed Vireo have been seen for about a month). Whooper Swan and Black Kite in Alaska. Up the Pacific Coast there is Common Pochard, Brambling, and Red-flanked Bluetail. More Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese than you can throw a stick at!

Even still, the four Big Year Birders in 2016 put up some incredible numbers for the classic ABA that should be hard to beat. Congrats to all of them! It has been incredibly fun following them throughout the year.

Only wish the ABA would let them count their Hawaiian birds. Why not treat them as provisionals?

 

[Mysticete]

you know...I know John said "catch me if you can!" in his blog, but I don't even think this year was that unusual in rarities (If anything, fall birding in Alaska was below average). I am going to predict that his record, Hawaii not withstanding, gets taken out in a decade or so.

 

[GiG]

As I asked I better have a go - 781.

Gi

Well my guess at the final total was close!

Another major thread/journey comes to an end along with Arjans exploits. These long running threads do keep us entertained - ever since reading Larry's Bristol to Kagu superb thread.

As others have mentioned at least we have the WP Big Year to keep us going for 2017.

Just jealous of all the full time day in day out birding!

Gi

 

[Vague Bird News]

Oh crap...John Went to Hawaii and did even better than Olaf (838 new ABA compared to Olaf's 832). Olaf doesn't even get to the conciliation prize oh creating a benchmark goal for future big year birders. That really does suck

It's OK. Bradley and Olaf didn't do this list for you and me. They did it for themselves. And now they are naked on a beach dancing and drinking piña coladas.

We may never know the true truth about 2016 - there remain so many unanswered questions. Does John really exist? Did he really see the Cuboid Vireo? Are Olaf and Bradley really planning to take John and Christian on at tag wrestling to raise money for the Kiwikiu? Was there ever really a Siberian-headed Chickatit? If all the male contestants were indeed fictional, as various people have suggested, does this make Laura rightfully the first female president of the USA? Do Olaf and Bradley's lists combined beat John's?