floraphile Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 (edited) I am planning on participating in my first GBBC & GBD this year. and found an entertaining, front-page article on the subject in the current newsletter of one of my local Audubon societies. There also is a link for a Costa Rica virtual birding tour that gives most of the registration fee to the local guide. I think that is a terrific idea to help keep ecotourism afloat during this pandemic. I have also placed "The Big Year" on our Netflix queue. ? We have never seen it. http://fmwaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_Feb_Mar_Apr_skimmer.pdf Edited January 29, 2021 by floraphile clarification Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 8, 2021 Author Share Posted February 8, 2021 For the GBBC--Do observers limit themselves to counting for 15 minutes per site per day, or is that the minimum time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colton V Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 This is from the Audubon website: "Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online." So it looks like 15 minutes is the minimum, but you could count for however long you want (as long as you follow eBird's checklist guidelines). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) 34 minutes ago, Colton V said: This is from the Audubon website: "Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online." So it looks like 15 minutes is the minimum, but you could count for however long you want (as long as you follow eBird's checklist guidelines). Yep, 15 minute minimum. Otherwise, the parameters are the same as for any other checklist. If you've been watching for 15 minutes, there's no reason to select Incidental. I usually take Friday or Monday off from work, and try to visit at least one new spot during the weekend. I'm deciding between a couple of state parks. There are also a couple of favorite hotspots I always hit. It's supposed to get colder as the weekend progresses, so Friday will be my big day. And the Daytona 500 is Sunday afternoon. Birding and NASCAR = best weekend of the year. Edited February 9, 2021 by Charlie Spencer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 2 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Yep, 15 minute minimum. Otherwise, the parameters are the same as for any other checklist. If you've been watching for 15 minutes, there's no reason to select Incidental. I usually take Friday or Monday off from work, and try to visit at least one new spot during the weekend. I'm deciding between a couple of state parks. There are also a couple of favorite hotspots I always hit. It's supposed to get colder as the weekend progresses, so Friday will be my big day. Y'all must be getting the same front in SC that we are here in AL. It's supposed to rain here most days of the GBBC with a hard freeze Sunday night, so we'll play it by ear. We can always bird from the kitchen if the weather is too bad. Hubby is my birding partner/muscle/driver/valet/courier and is a native south Floridian, and does not do well with any temp below 70 degrees. ? I did scope out a new place today with the GBBC in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colton V Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Is the GBBC not limited to one's backyard? It's supposed to snow the whole weekend where I live! But Portland snow doesn't stick, so it's just going to be a sputter of nasty slush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 1 minute ago, floraphile said: We can always bird from the kitchen if the weather is too bad. I always get a couple of one-hour lists posted from the backyard. My Darling Bride can say, "Yes, Dear, I see it. It's beautiful.", without ever looking up from her book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I always get a couple of one-hour lists posted from the backyard. My Darling Bride can say, "Yes, Dear, I see it. It's beautiful.", without ever looking up from her book. He does that, too, but then casually takes a better picture of the Downy Woodpecker or Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Edited February 9, 2021 by floraphile typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Colton V said: Is the GBBC not limited to one's backyard? Oh, heck no! Go wherever you want! I plan to hit a state park and an industrial park, minimum. Possibly a county recreation complex, a park at one end of a large dam, or a couple of small ponds, one suburban and / or one agricultural; I try to get at least one large body of water. Some of these are listed hotspots, some are not. I like to hit places that aren't heavily birded, to get data from areas that are overlooked. I've found some of my favorite patches that way. Plus the backyard, of course. Edited February 9, 2021 by Charlie Spencer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Well we’re under an extreme cold warning for the next week or so here, so hopefully it lets up a bit or else it definitely will be a backyard count! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 The warmest days here are also forecast to be the wettest. As the chance of rain decreases, so does the temp. I don't handle the cold very well, and I froze once this season already for a CBC. I may wind up exclusively backyarding this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 On 1/29/2021 at 7:01 AM, floraphile said: I am planning on participating in my first GBBC & GBD this year. and found an entertaining, front-page article on the subject in the current newsletter of one of my local Audubon societies. There also is a link for a Costa Rica virtual birding tour that gives most of the registration fee to the local guide. I think that is a terrific idea to help keep ecotourism afloat during this pandemic. I have also placed "The Big Year" on our Netflix queue. ? We have never seen it. http://fmwaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_Feb_Mar_Apr_skimmer.pdf Did you enjoy the movie? There are a couple about birding, but the Big Year is the best one by far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Connor Cochrane said: Did you enjoy the movie? There are a couple about birding, but the Big Year is the best one by far. We did enjoy it! We also read about the real people on whom the characters were based. ? Edited February 9, 2021 by floraphile typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 17 minutes ago, floraphile said: We did enjoy it! We also read about the real people on whom the characters were based. ? The book the movie was based off of was a good read, one of the better ones on big years. In my opinion, the best big year book is Kingbird Highway, I think its well worth it to to read it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 2 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said: The book the movie was based off of was a good read, one of the better ones on big years. In my opinion, the best big year book is Kingbird Highway, I think its well worth it to to read it. Thanks, @Connor Cochrane for the recommendation. I will get a copy. I much prefer books over movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 I just cancelled my vacation day for Friday, and as of now I have no plans to take Monday off. Minimum chance of rain here through the GBBC is 60%, mostly higher. Ah well, gotta refill the wetlands somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 10 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I just cancelled my vacation day for Friday, and as of now I have no plans to take Monday off. Minimum chance of rain here through the GBBC is 60%, mostly higher. Ah well, gotta refill the wetlands somehow. It's supposed to rain up here in Costal California as well. Luckily, I'm heading down to the desert for the long weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 (edited) There were several dozen checklists entered for Lexington County, SC for the first two days of the 2021 GBBC. All but one were either from backyards / private property or were incidentals. The exception was a list from a heavily wooded riverfront park that's the most active hot spot in the county. However, it was filed by one of the park staff, so she was going to be out there in the cold rain anyway. (Good job, Rachel!) I'd like to get just enough wind this morning to dry things out some, but not enough to generate a wind chil. Picky, ain't I? Edited February 14, 2021 by Charlie Spencer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 3 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: There were several dozen checklists entered for Lexington County, SC for the first two days of the 2021 GBBC. All but one were either from backyards / private property or were incidentals. The exception was a list from a heavily wooded riverfront park that's the most active hot spot in the county. However, it was filed by one of the park staff, so she was going to be out there in the cold rain anyway. (Good job, Rachel!) I'd like to get just enough wind this morning to dry things out some, but not enough to generate a wind chil. Picky, ain't I? My "muscle" is still abed this cold morning. I'm waiting for him to arise, so I can go birding at a terrific, but really isolated, location. These are the problems women have, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 (edited) Nevermind! Edited February 14, 2021 by floraphile new info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 25 species at the backyard feeders in just over an hour; 20 in the first 20 minutes. 60 PISI and 30 AMGO made it tough to pick out the visiting PUFI and resident HOFI. Absolute insanity! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Added mediocre photos out kitchen window. Let's see if the video will load here. https://ebird.org/checklist/S81366964 C0004.MP4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 #1 in the USA for GBBC! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 10 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said: #1 in the USA for GBBC! Way to go, @Connor Cochrane! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Ain’t got nothing on me! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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