Birding

The Birder Survey

November 8, 2006 by Mike 3 Comments

Patrick of The Hawk Owl’s Nest put together a scintillating Birder Survey, one that I’ve been remiss in completing. Time to rectify that now…

What state (or country) do you live in? New York
How long have you been birding? 4 years
Are you a “lister”? Oh yeah!
ABA Life List: 343
Overall Life List: 443
3 Favorite Birding Spots: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Lenoir Nature Preserve in NY, Lakeview Drive on Paradise Island in the Bahamas
Favorite birding spot outside your home country: Belize
Farthest you’ve traveled to chase a rare bird: 2 hours (dipped, of course)
Nemesis bird: Ruffed Grouse (very common at my in-laws’, except when I’m visiting)
“Best” bird sighting: American Pygmy Kingfisher in a secluded Belizean lagoon
Most wanted trip: New Zealand
Most wanted bird: California Condor (wild)
What model and brand of bins do you use?: Minolta Activa 10 x 50
What model and brand of scope do you use?: Swarovski AT65
What was the last lifer you added to your list?: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Where did you see your last lifer?: Irving, TX
What’s the last bird you saw today?: European Starling
Best bird song you’ve heard ever: Melodious Blackbird (joking… Cacophonous is more like it)
Favorite birding moment: First time we spotted an American Kestrel out our apartment window (during our first CBC no less!)
Least favorite thing about birding: Slow days
Favorite thing about birding: Immersion in nature
Favorite field guide for the US: Anything by Sibley
Favorite non-field guide bird book: How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher
Who is your birder icon?: Charlie Moores (world-birder extraordinaire)
Do you have a bird feeder(s)? No
Favorite feeder bird? White-breasted Nuthatch

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.