Bird listing
is a fun way to keep track of the birds seen in one's lifetime. Unfortunately,
it does not really do justice to denote the experience of the observer.
Current bird listing practice is almost exclusively done by species only.
Unusual bird plumage, behavior, etc. are not generally kept on such lists.
But, nonetheless, some type of listing is better than none. Even a
simple list of species seen each year for a favorite little spot of yours
might prove to be invaluable some day in saving that land from imminent "progress".
Or maybe someone is doing research or writing a birdfinding book and you
happen to be the only repository of knowledge for a particular spot. Who knows?
At any rate, you should keep lists for your own use. It will help you learn
more about birds and about yourself.
Listers can be
very competitive...or relaxed. Neither approach is "wrong" unless it
harms or hinders the birds, property, or people. Listing is
something that everyone should do...but, it should never become so burdensome
as to make your birding experience bothersome. Getting outside, observing,
and enjoying birds should be your prime directive. Listing is just
a side dish...albeit a really enjoyable one to some folks. (I suppose
I have to include myself here. <grin>)
It's a list of
all the species seen and identified by the observer in one's lifetime for
a particular geographic region. A birder can have life lists for world,
continent, country, state/province, county (e.g. ANY defined boundary).
I keep life lists for world, continent, ABA (American Birding Association)
Area, country,and U.S. States. Additionally, I have county life lists
for Maryland and Ohio.
This is a list
of species seen and identified by the observer in a specific area for a year.
Again, this could be by any defined region. For the last few years,
I have kept annual lists for county, state, country, and ABA Area.
Life Monthly List:
the number of species seen in a particular month during one's lifetime
Annual Monthly List: the number of species seen for every month
of a year
Life Close-out: a species seen in every county in a particular
state
Annual Close-out: a species seen in every county in a particular
state in the same year
Life Monthly Close-out: a species seen in every month of the
year
Annual Monthly Close-out: a species seen in every month of a
particular year
County Century Club: reaching 100 species for a county
Big Year: an attempt to see as many species as possible in one
year in a given region
Big Day: an attempt to see as many species as possible in a
24-hrperiod
