Re: Listers Anonymous...my own personal quest for 98
David Gersten (gerstens@erols.com)
Fri, 27 Mar 1998 08:32:40 -0500
Wow Greg.
Quite a goal. I'm rooting for you because I someday hope to do the same.
My own goal for this year is to finally get my 600th life bird. I'm closing in on
550 and I still have plenty of traveling this year.
I've already been to Calgary, Tucson, Provo and Cape May. In the next two months
I'll be in Chicago, Nashville, Seattle and Boston. And this fall I'll travel to
Santa Fe, Houston, San Francisco and Denver. My birding time at most of these
locations is limited to Sunday and Monday half days. And, with a non-birding wife
and a 20 month old daughter, my local birding is minimal.
Keep us posted.
___________
David Gersten
gerstens@erols.com
Gregory B Miller wrote:
> Howdy all!
>
> Look out! Purely selfish agenda ahead! Birder goes over the edge!
>
> <It's long. It's personal. Feel free to delete. I hope I am not
> offending anyone with my own selfish quest.>
>
> Ok. I admit to my obsession: listing birds. Ok. Maybe a little out
> of whack for this year, too. My goal is 600 in North America. If I
> don't make it, I sure hope to have the most FUN year birding ever! This
> will be the equivalent [for me--I just passed the 600 mark last summer
> for my life list in North America] of an entire lifetime (37 yrs) of
> birding experiences in one year.
>
> Several factors have contributed to this madness <grin>.
>
> 1) Kenn Kaufman's book, _Kingbird Highway_
> 2) I'm not getting any younger
> 3) I can still see, hear, and move about well enough
> 4) I've always wanted to do a "big" year
> 5) I have very few responsibilities tying me down this year
> 6) I have the most flexible work environment I've ever had
> 7) I did 500+ species last year on 4 wks vacation (w/o Alaska)
> 8) I'm going to Alaska this year (this is what makes me believe it's
> even feasible)
> 9) 4 wks off between contracts
> 10) internet airfare wars...yaaaaaahoooooooo!
>
> I had a month off between contracts this year, February 15-March 15.
> This happened to coincide with Internet airfare wars. Waaaaaahoooo! I
> was off and running [madly]. I flew to SE Arizona Feb 15-20, returned
> to Baltimore for a day; left for S Texas Feb 22-27, returned to
> Baltimore in the evening and left the next morning for N Minnesota Feb
> 28-Mar 4; then on to Oklahoma Mar 4-8, returning to Baltimore once
> again; then off to San Francisco the next morning Mar 9-15. (yes, I went
> back to work Mar 16...a little tired but very happy!). Why back to
> Baltimore so often? Well, to save 50%, of course! Unfortunately, I
> don't have unlimited resources <sigh>. But it's just one more exciting
> challenge to birding. Everyone has their own limitations. This past
> weekend I flew in to Ohio to combine birding with visiting my family in
> Ohio. It was cold, windy, and snowing...ah, Spring in Cleveland
> <ha-ha-ha>.
>
> I'm planning on doing S Florida and the Dry Tortugas Apr 2-6, and Texas
> for migration Apr 17-26. Then on to Anchorage May 8, Attu May 9-24,
> Gambell May 25-31, Denali and Seward Peninsula Jun 1-6, Minnesota/North
> Dakota Jun 7-14. Then I have to work again (ah...that doesn't sound
> easy after all that fun!).
>
> Yes, I am at 375 for the year so far (and count myself to be very lucky
> so far). Unfortunately, I didn't decide to do a big year until the end
> of January. I only had 4 full days of birding before traipsing all over
> the country.
>
> My exuberance has me rambling far more than any of you probably want to
> hear. Sorry for the wordiness, but no apologies for having fun!!! If
> you'd like any trip lists or summaries, I'll be happy to supply them on
> request (in between birding excursions, of course!). Oh, and yes, I am
> keeping a journal. Maybe if I get ambitious some day, I may publish
> it. Who knows?
>
> And again, thanks for everyone's kindness and willingness to help with
> the SHORT-EARED OWL and SWAINSON'S WARBLERs. It is GREATLY appreciated!
>
> Greg Miller
> Lusby, MD
> Home: gregorym@erols.com
> Work: gregory.b.miller@bge.com