All:
Just to beat on the dead horse, I agree with Dick et al. on all points. As an
excellent example of the usefulness of such posts (though the example uses
phone calls, rather than Cobirds posts), I would point out that a few years
ago, I was working at home on my computer when I got calls from various friends
about Gray-cheeked Thrushes in numbers at Chico Basin Ranch and of the species
being found at at least one other site in eastern Colorado. I immediately
thought that I could not get down to such sites that day, but I could go check
local sites to see how widespread this drop of Gray-cheeked Thrushes was.
Thus, I headed to the cemetery in Fort Lupton (just a couple miles from my
apt.) and, lo and behold, found three Gray-cheeked Thrushes. It turned out
that that event made for the largest occurrence of the species in the state
ever.
Yes, Gray-cheeked Thrush is a rarity and more would chase such than would chase
Northern Parula or Black-throated Gray Warbler, but the idea is the same. If a
fallout has happened in one place, that fallout might be more widespread and
knowing that something is happening in one part of the state may indicate that
same is happening elsewhere. If we don't know, we might not go check.
Sincerely,
Tony Leukering
Villas, NJ
Dick Filby <[email protected]> Apr 24 07:18PM +0100
Brandon raises an interesting and for many, an important point.
"Is it worth posting about migrant birds in the morning if they are not
major state rarities?"
Well, there are many reasons that folks read and post to COBIRDS, and
amongst them are:
1) To hear about a bird that's interesting enough to chase. What is and
what is not interesting enough to chase should be up to the recipient - that
is a personal decision and will be different to every individual that ever
"chases". It will also vary day by day. Not everyone is limited to
weekends off work. Some folks will drive miles, other will go no further
than their neighbor's yard. And of course you may just be driving by.. Oh,
and by the way, we are ALL chasers at some level or another. Even if only
as far as the window when your partner calls out about a yardbird. Best
they call it whilst they are still watching it, not wait to mention it until
dinner time?
2) To hear about migration in progress - many folks like to hear that
migrants have been seen elsewhere today, and take the inspiration from that
to go birding locally, maybe at lunchtime in the city park or some other
local hotspot
3) For an interesting read.. COBIRDS is usually more pertinent than
watching the TV news! Except COBIRDS doesn't yet do "coming up .. stay
tuned..." birdnews - too bad.
4) For those who do not want to read timely sightings, you can opt to
receive a daily digest, or if daily is too often, then one can log onto J
Siler's www.birdingonthe.net and read all the recent Colorado posts there.
I figure you know where I stand by now..
Personally, I would urge everyone to post their migrant bird news reports as
early as possible.. (thanks Brandon)
My two pennyworth
Good birding all
Dick Filby
Carbondale, CO
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