Ever since I learned that the Muscovy Duck I discovered in a Central Park pond was not countable by ABA standards, I’ve grappled with the question of “What is Wild?” Most listers sail the same stormy seas. Alvaro Jaramillo, brilliant bird guide and proprietor of Alvaro’s Adventures, just tackled this thorny topic on the ABA Facebook page. I’ve republished the full initial statement with Alvaro’s kind permission in order to elicit the kind of nuanced discussion 10,000 Birds readers are so good at:
Listing is just a game, but one that many take seriously. The rules of the game, and what you can and cannot count, are the domain of the ABA. So while we are dealing with Hawaii and all, let’s change how one rule is applied! Let’s call it the California Condor exception. The reason we do not allow introduced species onto checklists until they are breeding and self sustaining for many generations is that without this rule you could go to a pet store, release a bunch of crazy colorful finches and count them all on your yard or state list. Clearly this is not good. But when you have a native bird that has been taken into captivity due to conservation problems, and then you release these birds back into their native range – THESE ARE NOT INTRODUCTIONS. These are restorations of populations, and they should not have to wait and jump through the hoops that a myna, Ring-necked Parakeet or other truly introduced bird would need to do. They should be counted immediately, or hey give them a day to recuperate or something. They should be treated more like banded and released birds at a banding station, NOT LIKE INTRODUCTIONS.
Seeing a condor out in the wild is amazing, fantastic, magical, spiritual – even if they have a blue wing tag. In fact seeing they have a wing tag makes it even more magical to me – people care!!! In my heart I count condors, but if I was to send in a list of birds I have seen in the ABA or California I would not be able to? That is crazy to me. Let’s stop treating restorations of native species (be they condors, Aplomado Falcons, or whatever) in the same way as we treat introductions of exotics. Anyone with me?
Whether you bird in the ABA area or outside it, you may have some thoughts on Alvaro’s comments, which I happen to agree with fully. Please join the rousing discussion here or on the ABA Facebook page.
Who wouldn’t love to add one of these guys to their list?
I’ve wondered about this myself, though so far I haven’t had the need to apply the question to an actual sighting. The eastern population of Whooping Cranes is another potential special case.
I agree with Alvaro but will take it a step further- since your own personal bird list is a purely autonomous endeavor, count whatever you want. If you want to include birds from zoos, dreams, or a vivid imagination then go for it. It is your list so who cares what you include? Make your own set of rules. If the aim of the list is to compete with others, though, then all participants should abide by the same rules (and I realize that this is more related to what Alvaro is saying) but I suggest counting whatever and however you like.
Re-introductions, restorations or whatever of native species observed in the wild should be considered countable. It’s time for the ABA to reconsider it’s listing rules to include adding Hawai’i to the ABA area. Native Hawaian species are being short-changed conservation-wise because they are not on the radar screen of ABA listers.
How would the California Condor exception apply to a species that was introduced, established itself, went locally extinct, and then was re-introduced, ie if someone reintroduced the Crested Myna in Vancouver?
I couldn’t agree more. I have had the bliss of seeing California Condors flying over the Grand Canyon. My kids and I were mesmerized. In fact, I think they are more amazing BECAUSE of the blue tags. I know what happened to them and no the commitment it has taken to restore this amazing birds to the wild. I don’t understand the logic in not counting them. As Alvaro said, in my heart, they count!