World Yearlist Record Attempt (1 Viewer)

[Paul Chapman]

If he really cares so much about the record, he shouldn't have done Antarctica, but at the other hand, this adds another continent to the list which is obviously good for the story / book / and of course the experience!

Temmie

When he was in Antarctica, he was chasing 4,341 to set the record, aiming for 5,000 and unaware of Arjan looming for 2016! Don't get me wrong - I am sure his blogs are genuine and heartfelt. He has a special affinity for Antarctica and the continents were important to him. It was a statement that could have no negative effect as he beat the previous record by 1,700!!

My comments were simply in light of the doubling back to Sri Lanka and North East India. They look a touch like covering his bases........ I could easily be wrong. That happens. :cat: :catBoth occurred after Arjan's itinerary was published and with Noah's original goals long since achieved.)

Any way - now to wait till its published and try and convert it to IOC.....

All the best

 

[John Cantelo]

I'm in total awe of his stamina, dedication and organisation and congratulate him warmly. It must take a very special level of concentration and focus to bird 24/7 365. I think my limit would be about 3 weeks before I had to have a break and do something, anything, other than birding. One thing that Arjan has got right is doing his big year in a leap year - that extra day could make all the difference!

 

[Richard Klim]

Any way - now to wait till its published and try and convert it to IOC.....

That could be quite a task! It should be relatively quick and easy to check whether Noah recorded more than one eBird/Clements-recognised sp for spp not split by IOC. But it'll be much more of a challenge to check through his individual site checklists to determine (on the basis of known distributions) whether he encountered more than one IOC-recognised sp per eBird/Clements-recognised sp...

 

[njlarsen]

That could be quite a task! It should be relatively quick and easy to check whether Noah recorded more than one eBird/Clements-recognised sp for spp not split by IOC. But it'll be much more of a challenge to check through his individual site checklists to determine (on the basis of known distributions) whether he encountered more than one IOC-recognised sp per eBird/Clements-recognised sp...

For himself probably not that bad. What I would do would be to download all observations from 2015 from ebird in one file and import the lot to scythebill using the setting for Clements. Thereafter I would change the view to IOC and use the built in tools to identify doubtful assignments. Most of these would be easy to assign using range information.

I know because I recently went through the same exercise with my life database of observations.

Niels

 

[Paul Chapman]

But there are also 68 extant species recognised by eBird/Clements but not by IOC, so it's not necessarily quite that simple...

Well - step one in conversion. I've been through the 68 taxa with (I think) the following results:-

Halcyon gularis - lose one as also seen Halcyon smyrnensis
Merops americanus - lose one as also seen Merops viridis
Nisaetus limnaeetus - lose one as also seen Nisaetus cirrhatus
Choricocephalus scopulinus - lose one as also seen Choricocephalus novaehollandiae
Trogon aurantiventris - lose one as also seen Trogon collaris
Ceyx rufidorsa - lose one as also seen Ceyx erithaca
Nystalus obamai - retain as not also seen Nystalus striolatus
Psilopogon chrysopsis - lose one as also seen Psilopogon chrysopogon
Ficedula luzoniensis - lose one as also seen Ficedula hyperythra
Cyanomitra obscura - lose one as also seen Cyanomitra olivacea
Ortygospiza fuscocrissa & Ortygospiza gabonenis - retain one & lose one as not also seen Ortygospiza atricollis
Acanthis cabaret - lose one as also seen Acanthis flammea

So net result is minus 11 for eBird/Clements species not recognised by IOC.

Richard - any obvious mistakes?

Now to start looking at additional species counted by IOC. This could take longer.......

Species list not updated yet:-

https://www.audubon.org/news/the-species-list

All the best

 

[Jon Turner]

Species list not updated yet:-

Probably having a well-earned rest!:gn:

HNY everyone!

 

[Paul Chapman]

Species list now updated and blog updated. He is doing all the sweeping up himself (though for interest I'll have a look at those IOC splits myself):-

https://www.audubon.org/news/the-species-list

https://www.audubon.org/news/day-365-so-long-and-thanks-all-birds

'For those who care about such things, I recorded 224 of the 234 bird families recognized by the Clements checklist in 2015. Today, I have posted a separate page (it will be linked from the main page of this blog) with the entire bird list in taxonomic order. I will calculate the total according to IOC standards (for comparison purposes) and tally up the “heard-only” subtotal, and add those details to the taxonomic page in the next week or two.'

'That’s right: After 365 straight days of nothing but looking at birds, tomorrow I’m getting up and… going birding. The alarm is set for 5 a.m.'

A really class act. Massive congratulations.

All the best

 

[Pedro Ramalho]

Congratulations to Noah for an amazing year! 6042 species! Amazing!

 

[etudiant]

Noah deserves great praise, which he has been at pains to share with his support team, highlighting especially the inspirational role played by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's editor Lisa White.
It is just wonderful when dedicated people work together to help achieve something outstanding. This is a performance everyone involved can be proud of.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Interesting too how he managed with visas ...not sure how many countries that he visited require one, but not so easy to arrange when you are continually on the move!

 

[lichenostomus]

Been absolutely fascinating to read, and I only cottoned onto it in September! I think this will kick off a range of competitors in global big years, not just next years attempt, but over the next decade - how will Noah's record stand up? The likelihood is that it will be soon be broken as others come along on his coat-tails and undertake something that, up to this point, had not been seriously attempted.

I have been so impressed with many aspects of Noah's big year, many of which have been touched on already. The transparency of this attempt is admirable, and while this has allowed some questions to be raised over methodology, ID etc, I'm confident that he will fully review his list before confirming a final number. It is only through his transparent nature that these questions have been possible and this should be lauded.

The year gives the impression of being done on a sensible budget also. I've no idea how expensive it has been for Noah and whether he will break even with his book to come, but the attempt is more noteworthy through lack of private flights etc. If someone would approach this with a heap of money I've no doubt more numbers could be achieved, but the relationships with local guides established in this record is especially interesting. I also suspect that while the record was important and achievable, it essentially was one great big adventure for Noah and sometimes decisions were made in this context more than the absolute maximum number achievable.

The final thing of note, the most spectacular from my point of view, and the one that makes me think this record might stand longer, is the sheer stamina and motivation of Noah. I enjoy birding as much as the next person on this list, but could I take 365 early mornings and still want to go out spotlighting after dinner? I'd last about a week! I don't know how many younger birders are out there with the stamina to break the record? Congratulations to him on an amazing year, a great blog, and bringing together so many elements of the birding community.

 

[Jon Turner]

Back on 19th of October, post #538, I rather rashly predicted that Noah would see 6100 species! I've been quietly urging him on and there were a few days when it did indeed look plausible. Frankly I'm amazed that he kept the average to over 16 new species a day, so heartiest congratulations from this corner of Devon. I'm off out to see if the local Spoonbills are on my side of the river. I expect Noah will have seen something new already!

Thanks for the ride Noah.

Now, where's the Arjan thread......

 

[Richard Klim]

Well - step one in conversion. I've been through the 68 taxa with (I think) the following results:-

Halcyon gularis - lose one as also seen Halcyon smyrnensis
Merops americanus - lose one as also seen Merops viridis
Nisaetus limnaeetus - lose one as also seen Nisaetus cirrhatus
Choricocephalus scopulinus - lose one as also seen Choricocephalus novaehollandiae
Trogon aurantiventris - lose one as also seen Trogon collaris
Ceyx rufidorsa - lose one as also seen Ceyx erithaca
Nystalus obamai - retain as not also seen Nystalus striolatus
Psilopogon chrysopsis - lose one as also seen Psilopogon chrysopogon
Ficedula luzoniensis - lose one as also seen Ficedula hyperythra
Cyanomitra obscura - lose one as also seen Cyanomitra olivacea
Ortygospiza fuscocrissa & Ortygospiza gabonenis - retain one & lose one as not also seen Ortygospiza atricollis
Acanthis cabaret - lose one as also seen Acanthis flammea

So net result is minus 11 for eBird/Clements species not recognised by IOC.

Richard - any obvious mistakes?

Now to start looking at additional species counted by IOC. This could take longer.......

Only speeling (Choricocephalus, aurantiventris).

But if you've systematically checked all 68, it should be correct. You're doing a grand job, Paul. :t:

Happy New Year!
Richard

 

[Paul Chapman]

Only speeling (Choricocephalus, aurantiventris).

But if you've systematically checked all 68, it should be correct. You're doing a grand job, Paul. :t:

Happy New Year!
Richard

Richard

Many thanks and Happy New Year to you too

 

[Andrew Verrall]

Back on 19th of October, post #538, I rather rashly predicted that Noah would see 6100 species! I've been quietly urging him on and there were a few days when it did indeed look plausible. Frankly I'm amazed that he kept the average to over 16 new species a day, so heartiest congratulations from this corner of Devon. I'm off out to see if the local Spoonbills are on my side of the river. I expect Noah will have seen something new already!

Thanks for the ride Noah.

Now, where's the Arjan thread......

H N year everyone, well done Noah. Just seen Arjan's species list for 1st, 118 species (incl a Pine Bunting), wasn't Noah's highest day total about 82 or 83, anyway from A's website link to Dutch Birding, then weblogs link. Off we go again even before the dust has settled.
Andrew

 

[Corvus cornix]

Well done, Noah. A fantastic achievement and the very best of luck to Arjan.

Cheers

 

[Surreybirder]

I'm glad there's a new record attempt or I'd get withdrawal sypmtoms!

 

[Jon Turner]

It took Noah until January 10th to reach 118 species, so a cracking start!

And here's a short version of the year:

https://www.audubon.org/news/day-365-so-long-and-thanks-all-birds

 

[Paul Chapman]

In my view, the rather spectacular 5 minute Youtube video does deserve another plug:-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PR2fFtIReVU

I doubt many will regret watching it so have a look if you haven't already.

All the best

 

[Paul Chapman]

Only speeling (Choricocephalus, aurantiventris).

But if you've systematically checked all 68, it should be correct. You're doing a grand job, Paul. :t:

Happy New Year!
Richard

OK. I reckon that there are 322 additional species under IOC Version 5.4 than eBird/Clements that are not classified as extinct or presumed extinct. Next step is working out the eBird/Clements (super)species and then whether Noah saw that (super)species so it needs further investigation. I've cracked a way to speed up that process.......... But currently I suspect he'll beat me to it.

All the best