I can guarantee that Hank and Pete Kaestner know every bird they have seen.

In fact shortly after Pete discovered a bird never before identified by
anyone in the world birding community,
someone asked him how long did it take to recognize the bird as a newly
discovered bird.
Pete's reply was : " I knew it was a new bird the moment I saw it."
I can verify that his statement was one of authority.

Both Pete and HK know world birds after constant study, reading and
collaboration with other world birder's.

I have had so much fun birding with them over the years; both are extremely
generous in sharing their birding knowledge.
While it is undeniable that Pete and HK are heavy listers, both are also
focused on the more interesting aspects of
bird watching that deal with bird habits, conservation, expansion of bird
populations; and observations about Nature.
I would consider both to be serious Naturalists.


        good birding!



                Taylor McLean



----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Ellis" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 7:29 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Kaestner Life List Numbers


> 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...