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Birding Goals for 2021


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Remember that I can shoot video instead of a series of 'left to right' still photos.  It just never occurs to me.  It may not be useful for picking out individual species in a large mixed flock, but I won't know until I try.

In support of that goal, learn how to shoot video in the first place.

Edited by Charlie Spencer
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18 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Remember that I can shoot video instead of a series of 'left to right' still photos.  It just never occurs to me.  It may not be useful for picking out individual species in a large mixed flock, but I won't know until I try.

In support of that goal, learn how to shoot video in the first place.

I wouldn't recommend that. Video is a bit more complicated than just a string of photos taken by the camera- because of bitrate limitations there is compression (unless you're shooting on a very very expensive camera), meaning if you try to separate it out into frames it will probably be a blurry, pixelated mess.

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4 hours ago, Hasan said:

I wouldn't recommend that. Video is a bit more complicated than just a string of photos taken by the camera- because of bitrate limitations there is compression (unless you're shooting on a very very expensive camera), meaning if you try to separate it out into frames it will probably be a blurry, pixelated mess.

I wasn't think of breaking into frames, more like just pausing it to see what I can spot.  I had a large flock of mixed waders a couple of years ago when video might have been handy, or some occasions when birds were bathing in rain puddles.

What's the worst that can happen, I can try it and decide it doesn't help me?

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  • 8 months later...
On 1/1/2021 at 3:31 PM, chipperatl said:

What are your goals for birding in 2021?

  1. One more Yard Bird to get to 150
  2. May try to beat my County high of 206 for the year
  3. Add two more County Lifers
  4. Hit Michigan Top 100, will take around 250 birds.  Hoping for more trips to U.P.
  1. Done - at 154
  2. Done - at 207
  3. Done - added 5
  4. Won’t happen as focused on county, and other things have gotten in the way.  
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On 1/1/2021 at 5:15 PM, Kevin said:

1. Do 365 complete checklists.

2. Get to 300+ for my life list.

3. Up my county list to 200.

4. Hit 170 for my yard list.

5. Find owls.

So far I have accomplished all of these except the first one which I don't think I will make.

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My goal each year is to always see more state birds than the year before. I have done that in spades this year. 2020 I had 221 in Georgia, this year I'm at 245 already.

New goal is to hit 250 for the state by the end of the year. I'm going to the Georgia Ornithological Society's Fall Conference this weekend, so I'm hoping that will be productive.

I had also wanted to get over 300 life birds, and going to New Mexico in August did that for me. I ended 2020 at 272, and am now at 323.

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On 1/1/2021 at 3:23 PM, BirdNrd said:

1. Get my county list to 350

2. Get my life list to 400

3. Bird more in my yard

4. Find more rarities

5. Do CBC

So far, 3 and 4 are done. 2 won't happen, and 1 probably won't either. Hopefully I'll get to do CBC but that's iffy with Covid.

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On 1/1/2021 at 3:23 PM, Aaron said:

I was lucky that the five rare birds I found in 2020 all showed up in my yard, so I didn’t really have to put too much effort in ?.

For me:

1. To get to 100 species at one of my hotspots. 11 more to go, should be do able.

2. Get to 150 at my other hotspot. 19 more to go, possible, but definitely going to be a challenge.

3. Get some better audio recordings. 

4. I’d like to get to get to at least 200 species for my province. Which I guess is akin to exploring more local birding areas.

5. I really want to find a nighthawk that’s roosting. Only have ever seen them flying.

6. Do at least one checklist a week for the hotspot I made across the street. I usually go everyday, but when it gets colder it’s gonna be a bit tougher to motivate myself. Only have to go until April 16th then it will be practically complete except for a couple missing weeks in the summer/fall. 

1. Hotspot is at 102 now. Also a new hotspot was made across the street from that one, which is now at 101.

2. Currently at 160! It’s tied for the #16 Top hotspot for the county 

3.  I guess?

4. I’m at 175… still very possible to get to 200 or above if I tried, but I don’t have the time to do so, so maybe next year.

5. Nope. Think I only saw nighthawks once this year.

6. Look at these data bars ?(August is a slow month for magpies apparently)

4C2EA9E2-889B-495B-95BE-AE03A6B34C85.jpeg.9b296d8a87fce4fd5db2618a88d38754.jpeg

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On 1/2/2021 at 5:22 PM, Connor Cochrane said:

I guess my big goal will be to hit 300 for the year in my county. It’ll take lots of heading out, and hoping the rangers at the OP will let me in on my bike, but that should be possible.  

I'm close. I'm chasing a bird tomorrow morning that I've already dipped on twice, but if I get it it'll be a great 300. Luckily they didn't close the road out to the point so I was able to get out in a car.

 

1068035209_ScreenShot2021-10-05at8_58_42PM.png.d65d23eeca7013f39cefe8ebec25f0f9.png

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5 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said:

I'm close. I'm chasing a bird tomorrow morning that I've already dipped on twice, but if I get it it'll be a great 300. Luckily they didn't close the road out to the point so I was able to get out in a car.

 

1068035209_ScreenShot2021-10-05at8_58_42PM.png.d65d23eeca7013f39cefe8ebec25f0f9.png

Good luck!

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8 hours ago, Aaron said:

Nope. Think I only saw nighthawks once this year.

I just looked at some of my photos of Nighthawks to see if there was any common timing when I have seen them perched and there was not. I have photos of perched nighthawks from May to August in Colorado. Had one in Florida in late September. So the only thing I can suggest is fence posts. I have seen a lot of nighthawks perched on fence posts in rural areas. The second thing is horizontal or close to horizontal branches of trees. Again in rural areas. Keeping in mind of course that they blend in very well and may look like nothing more than a natural lump on the tree branch with the naked eye. The only other suggestion is shingled roofs. I had one that spent the day on our neighbors shed roof. This was in Colorado.  A couple of photos below. Also seems like late August early September nighthawks go into feeding frenzy mode and will start hunting more in the evening. I use to be able to go out even in our suburban neighborhood in Colorado during this time frame and see them flying.

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  • 2 months later...
On 1/1/2021 at 3:31 PM, chipperatl said:

What are your goals for birding in 2021?

  1. One more Yard Bird to get to 150
  2. May try to beat my County high of 206 for the year
  3. Add two more County Lifers
  4. Hit Michigan Top 100, will take around 250 birds.  Hoping for more trips to U.P.

Got first 3.  No way I’m hitting #4.  26 birds short of that, which is closer than I would have guessed.  Would need a lot of gimmes in the next 2 weeks, but I am off from work till the 4th…..hmmmm.

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On 10/5/2021 at 9:45 AM, meghann said:

My goal each year is to always see more state birds than the year before. I have done that in spades this year. 2020 I had 221 in Georgia, this year I'm at 245 already.

New goal is to hit 250 for the state by the end of the year. I'm going to the Georgia Ornithological Society's Fall Conference this weekend, so I'm hoping that will be productive.

I had also wanted to get over 300 life birds, and going to New Mexico in August did that for me. I ended 2020 at 272, and am now at 323.

Hit the new goal, I'm at 251 for Georgia for the year. If by some miracle I got four more birds before the new year, I'd be at 300 for the year, which would be amazing. Even if I don't, can't complain! It's been a great year.

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On 1/2/2021 at 8:36 PM, Birding Boy said:

My goals are:

1: Get my year list to 250

2: get my life list to 350

3: Get my county year list to 225

4: up my yard list to 150

5: Get better pictures.

6 learn more warbler songs.

7: Visit Michigan’s upper peninsula!

8: Find a Saw-Whet owl. A nemesis bird for me. 
 

Well, that’s a lot of goals, hopefully I can complete some.

Got all except 2-4. Next year, definitely.

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