Life Birds
- Thread starter Roy1961
- Start date
nikonpup
Senior Member
had to google, had not heard the term before: The Life List
Stoshowicz
Senior Member
I personally use the word a little differently , having seen the basic birds of my ,or your , locale... the number of new species per outing begins to drop unless you make specific attempts to find ones you haven't seen,, then I would ,or you could ,say the new one , when you see it was a life bird ,, or lifer , as in , I or you, hadn't yet seen this in my or your life , as of that moment. .. and it wouldn't sound odd or presumptuous , as it might, IF it was the very first bird you identified other than a a chicken or a pigeon.,,
It suggests you have some kind of a list or collection which you enjoy adding to , or checking off.
My list aspires to have all the birds in Florida, which regularly are found in Florida , in each of its plumages , and actually see them , in florida.
I don't really have much of an interest in vagrant birds which wander in from two states away by accident.
So - I want to bag a short-tailed hawk, which I haven't got , and wont press much to chase around after flamingos.
It suggests you have some kind of a list or collection which you enjoy adding to , or checking off.
My list aspires to have all the birds in Florida, which regularly are found in Florida , in each of its plumages , and actually see them , in florida.
I don't really have much of an interest in vagrant birds which wander in from two states away by accident.
So - I want to bag a short-tailed hawk, which I haven't got , and wont press much to chase around after flamingos.
i do keep a list, started it last year injunction with my 2016 52 weekly thread, last look it was at 164, i could maybe add 3 or 4 to it, now i am updating that thread to show/record all the birds i have taken photographs off. I saw some Sanderlings running up and down the surf but i am not marking this off my list as i didnt get a photo, if that makes sense.
The Reddish Egret which turned out to be a Goliath Heron its been marked of my list even though i never new it existed before.
The Reddish Egret which turned out to be a Goliath Heron its been marked of my list even though i never new it existed before.
Stoshowicz
Senior Member
I do the same thing, not counting one unless I get some pic of it , I want to be able to check myself. I tend to be a stickler about that because frankly, my imagination can turn a blur into an exotic rarity effortlessly. And looking back , If I really wasnt sure of my ID's , the list would lose its meaning to me. But everyone has their own standard , which Is theirs to require of themself.
One time a guy showed me a bird through his scope , that must have been a half mile away in a field, he said it was a buff breasted sandpiper, all I could actually see was a tan blur which could indeed have been that species,, for me , I dont feel like I actually saw it enough to say I saw it , even if it Was exactly what he said it was, but If he wants to check it off his own personal achievement list , that's fine too.
The specs which I have for myself , serve to limit my goals to a difficult but actually achievable level , and it doesnt have me running all over the place against my sedentary lifestyle and paycheck , to do it. I can relax and just watch things sometimes too , knowing its not on my list.
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BackdoorArts
Senior Member
A "life" bird for me is one that is considered "rare" in my area, or in the areas where I saw it. Time has nothing to do with it. I love on the east cost so any hummingbird I saw while vacationing in California are lifers for me. Likewise anything that wanders into my area unexpectedly is the same. My first time on a "birding" trip I got two of what local folks called "lifers" for the area, including a White-winged Dove. Last year I got a Crested Caracarra that got blown into the NJ winter. These are never here and there were multiple birders chasing it around the county for a week. Now, were I to see it in FL visiting my family it would still make the list but not quite a "lifer". I've met folks who were chasing Snowy Owls so as to log them in as many states as possible.
The simplest definition? The first time you see any bird it's a "lifer", because it adds to your life list. The difference is how excited you get or how long you've waited to see it. We actually keep two lists, a complete list of all birds we've seen anywhere, and those we've seen at home, from within the boundaries of our own hell's half-acre. After 24 years we're at somewhere north of 70 birds, which is pretty darn good. The photography thing doesn't play with the list as we started long before I grabbed a camera, but I'm trying to catch up.
The simplest definition? The first time you see any bird it's a "lifer", because it adds to your life list. The difference is how excited you get or how long you've waited to see it. We actually keep two lists, a complete list of all birds we've seen anywhere, and those we've seen at home, from within the boundaries of our own hell's half-acre. After 24 years we're at somewhere north of 70 birds, which is pretty darn good. The photography thing doesn't play with the list as we started long before I grabbed a camera, but I'm trying to catch up.
PLEASE DON"T CALL YOURSELF A BIRDER
Different class we are PHOTOGRAPHERS I hate birder's here
Stoshowicz
Senior Member
Hey now !PLEASE DON"T CALL YOURSELF A BIRDER
Different class we are PHOTOGRAPHERS I hate birder's here
... suggested compromise, birdographer
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They are aresholes here
Stoshowicz
Senior Member
Why are you saying that ? You do birds , like birds etc , they present challenges all their own, just as portraiture or landscape or weddings do.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
PLEASE DON"T CALL YOURSELF A BIRDER
Different class we are PHOTOGRAPHERS I hate birder's here
Even being cheeky, you're being more than a bit of an asshole. There are "photographers" who take pictures because they're pedophiles, so to say all "birders" are of the variety you've experienced justifies me getting held on the side of the road and questioned by for 30 minutes because I'm a middle aged man with a camera who happened to be photographing a foggy morning when a school bus drove by. I've met more than my fair share of asshole photographers, so if you'd like we can swap locations.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
And to be clear, I'm an amateur "naturalist" - I study and photograph all sorts of nature. My photography evolved out of the desire to capture what I was seeing instead of just seeing it. I was a "birder" first. If that makes me an asshole, I'll take it.
I've had the police show up about 7 times including helicopter when I used a blind next too an area that has hunting but this side is a sanctuary open to the public with trails cause I'm harassing the birds been told I'm too close and bothering the birds ETC. Yet they will have a handfull of sunflower seeds to feed the chickadees and what ever else comes around
Yep thats what they call me and my friends when they walk away cause no charges were laid
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Stoshowicz
Senior Member
Oh, I understand the cause now for some level of annoyance , however keep in mind that not everyone is so extremist.I've had the police show up about 7 times including helicopter when I used a blind next too an area that has hunting but this side is a sanctuary open to the public with trails cause I'm harassing the birds been told I'm too close and bothering the birds ETC. Yet they will have a handfull of sunflower seeds to feed the chickadees and what ever else comes around
Yep that's what they call me and my friends when they walk away cause no charges were laid
I personally tell people where things are so they can go see them , in fact Want people to go an see them , enjoy them , take pictures or even feed them appropriate food like seeds.
My rationale is that unless folks can do these things , they frankly won't care at all. Thats the bad stuff , not giving a shit , needless destruction, ignorance, OR PREVenting people from enjoying nature in their own ways.
So I don't have a problem with duck or turkey hunters! or even Sea world with the whales.
Yes , its not good for the animals that are killed , but its a sacrifice you make if you want to have stuff like them on the planet for generations to come, because people have to care about both the animals and the other people on the planet.
The birders around here are mostly quite nice, and they often give me tips to help with my photography. I have run in to a couple of them with superiority complexes. Mostly, though, I have had great experiences with them.
I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've had, Kevin. That sucks. I'd be put off too, if I were you.
I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've had, Kevin. That sucks. I'd be put off too, if I were you.
i think everyone runs into them at one stage or another, i was told one day that my benro tripod and wimberley was abit of an overkill for my camera and lens.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Good grief. Are we supposed to run a method of limits experiment every time we get a piece of equipment to find equipoise. Next time just say, "Thanks, Goldilocks. It is just right."
Stoshowicz
Senior Member
I had to look this up since it arose right after my post ..
A superiority complex is a psychological defense mechanism that compensates for an inferiority complex.[SUP][1][/SUP]
The term was coined by Alfred Adler as part of his school of individual psychology.
It was introduced in his series of books, including "Understanding Human Nature" and "Social Interest".
Inferiority complex - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferiority_complex
An inferiority complex is a lack of self-worth, a doubt and uncertainty, and feelings of not measuring up to standards. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate, resulting either in spectacular achievement or extreme asocial behavior.
My point being , is that they may be acting the way they are because they are intimidated by your own skills gear or whatever.
A superiority complex is a psychological defense mechanism that compensates for an inferiority complex.[SUP][1][/SUP]
The term was coined by Alfred Adler as part of his school of individual psychology.
It was introduced in his series of books, including "Understanding Human Nature" and "Social Interest".
Inferiority complex - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferiority_complex
An inferiority complex is a lack of self-worth, a doubt and uncertainty, and feelings of not measuring up to standards. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate, resulting either in spectacular achievement or extreme asocial behavior.
My point being , is that they may be acting the way they are because they are intimidated by your own skills gear or whatever.
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my tripod and head where probably better (latest) but he had a lovely 800mm lens, but for me its not about your gear but how much fun and enjoyment you get from whatever you shoot with.
Anyway i am going to set myself with 5 new (life) birds this year, i will not count the 2 i already have from last week, common loon and a rudy turnstone. Hope i make it. lol
Anyway i am going to set myself with 5 new (life) birds this year, i will not count the 2 i already have from last week, common loon and a rudy turnstone. Hope i make it. lol