I wonder what those numbers mean.  I suspect that they are very
hard numbers.

When I add a new bird to my list, I have seen or heard the bird
well enough that I would have a pretty good chance of identifying
it correctly again if I was alone, with no help but a field guide
(book).  On a field trip led by an expert to see birds I have
never seen, I expect to add a lot of "maybe's" to my trip list,
that do not make it to my life list because I did not see them
well enough.  I have no doubt of the leader's ID, but I could not
see enough field marks to ID it myself, so I did not really see a
distinguishably new bird.  If I see a new bird when alone, I
study it hard to be sure I have correctly ID'd it.

The Kaestner's have developed their lists through long and
intensive birding rather than quick tours, so I bet their numbers
indicate a phenomenal knowledge of world birds.

Bill Ellis
USA



-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding On Behalf Of Taylor McLean
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] O.T. somewhat - Peter Kaestner article

...
Hank has only seen a number between 6,000 - 7,000 bird species in
the world;
Pete's list  is something like 8k.

As for my life list, well, I am a local birder...