I'd guess that it's one of those *Branta* types that remains a resident of Canada year-round.
On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 3:57:53 PM UTC-7, Ira Sanders wrote: > > What's a Canadian Goose? > > Ira Sanders > > On Dec 13, 2016 3:01 PM, "Joe Roller" <[email protected] <javascript:>> > wrote: > >> "Is that bird countable?" is a common question among birders, with no >> simple answer. >> >> First one needs to consider what the criteria are for "countability." >> When a young birder starts off, his list may include these birds: >> robin, >> hawk, >> Canadian Goose >> duck, >> and "Yellow-billed Loon," identified by a stranger and viewed through his >> Aunt's scope. >> >> That is a personal list and quite valid. It's a first step to becoming a >> birder, and many of us have done that in the misspent days of our youth. >> >> *And a birder of any age can keep a list of any kind*. I have friends >> who keep a list of all birds they have seen in Colorado, including at the >> Zoo! >> >> But once a birder gets to the stage of wanting to compare his own list to >> other birders' lists, and maintain a reputation, the question >> comes up, "Can I count it?" In other words,* "What are the rules of this >> game?"* and "Do other birders include that species on their lists?" >> >> Let's face it, "The Lure of the List" is strong, and many birders have a >> gene for competition. Some disparage "listers," but there are few >> experienced birders >> who do *not* keep lists. And there are "mental lists." I have found that >> if a birder disparages "listers," they can usually tell you what birds they >> have seen, thanks to their mental list. >> >> Most of us follow the rule that the Colorado Field Ornithologists set >> down some years ago: For purposes of comparing one's state and county >> lists to those of other birders, the bird must be on the official >> Colorado list. http://coloradocountybirding.org/Checklists.aspx >> That applies to state lists, year lists, county lists, etc. Mute Swan, >> Graylag Goose, Monk Parakeet are not on the official CO list and most of us >> don't include them on our lists. >> That way I can be sure my list has not been "padded" by exotics. >> >> That official CFO list has been generated over the decades by expert >> volunteers on the Colorado Birds Record Committee, and it's maintained with >> care and scientific judgement. The CBRC went to great lengths >> (stable isotope analysis) to conclude that a taxidermy mount of an >> Emperor Goose shot in Colorado was probably *not* of wild origin. It's >> important that our state list is a "clean" one. Then it's comparable to >> the lists from other states, for example. >> >> And the fine points of what birds are countable are spelled out by the >> American Birding Association (ABA): >> http://listing.aba.org/aba-recording-rules/ >> There you'll find obvious guidelines like, "Don't count roadkill. Don't >> count birds in cages." And there you'll find some fine points such as, >> "When a bird has been caught in a >> net and banded, how many net marks must fade before you can count it?" >> >> eBird wants us to document exotics to watch for trends and changes. >> Witness the multitude of exotic cage birds, parrots and parakeets, that are >> alive, breeding and well in Miami, for example. >> So in summary, yes, report exotics to eBird, but when you do, the totals >> shown there on county or state or year lists, etc are not really comparable >> to others, who may have boldly >> gone into the field counting every Mandarin Duck and Jungle Fowl out >> there. >> You only have one chance to lose your reputation. >> >> Joe Roller, Denver >> (bracing myself for a storm of contrary views) >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] <javascript:>. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> <javascript:>. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUDSsbkhnHbhidMiXO8zfWtx5RK15Tk9w%2Bn1YRkpq-fP_w%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAJpZcUDSsbkhnHbhidMiXO8zfWtx5RK15Tk9w%2Bn1YRkpq-fP_w%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2240c9e1-dc0c-4a3d-85d0-63481dde39f2%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
