Steve/Jim

I plan to participate in both competitions.  Depending on how the year goes, 
I may drop out of one or both.

George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Steven Huy" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 12:44 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] 2005 County List Anti-Competition


Hi Folks!

After nearly no birding in 2004 and not concerned with listing anything in 
Maryland, an un-fanatic has persuaded me to set up a 2005 County List 
Anti-Competition.  The rules are not final yet, and probably will never be 
finished, but points will be deducted at the end of 2005 and someone will go 
home ashamed to show their face.  Well they should be ashamed, but probably 
won’t be, and will be out birding again before the year 2006 is up. But 
the real prize will be in setting up Jim Stasz for some sort of practical 
joke next year - perhaps some rare bird that isn’t quite what it seems... 
And maybe I will bring you along on some cool birding experience that few 
Maryland birders ever get. This is a contest to finish 2005 with the most 
pathetic list ever.

Although this sounds like a joke, this is a real competition.

Points will be awarded for Total Ticks; five for deer and three for dog.  If 
you get those really tiny deer ticks that can barely be seen and a bulls-eye 
rash you can collect seven points each for them.  Ticks must be saved in a 
clear film canister for counting at year's end. Polaroid photos or doctor's 
notes will be accepted for the rash (notes are required if the rash is some 
place we'd rather not see!)

You need not keep an Annual County List for each of the 23 Maryland 
Counties, just those in which you have something to list. Bonus points will 
be awarded for each gallon of gasoline not burned by birding in all 23 
counties in 2005. Bonus points will be awarded for confirming rails with 
moving trains that keep you waiting at the crossing for more than 20 
minutes, owls and well worn copies of a DeLorme Maryland Gazetteer Atlas. 
Bonus points for stumbling upon new State Records and new County Records. 
Bonus points for setting on your butt at home and still getting a new high 
for an Annual County List; this can include but is not limited to, soaring 
raptors at the extreme limits of binocular sight.

To pare down the size of the competitors, there are four standards that must 
be met by the end of 2005:

(1) You should walk as much as possible, saves gas and you will eventually 
lose some weight.
(2) Start off the winter months wearing many heavy layers of clothing and 
slim down by removing layers through the year (warning, might get cold by 
next January!).
(3) No donuts! I know those Krispy Kremes at Sheetz look good, but they are 
bad for you.  And that little snotty kid over there picked his nose then 
touched and licked that very same chocolate-glazed you just bit into. I told 
you so! Hope you enjoy his cold
(4) You must be addicted to large quantities of shade-grown coffee by the 
end of the year.

Otherwise this contest is geared towards those of us not concerned about 
lists.  Who can't remember to list things.  Who will likely never drive to 
all 23 counties to bird.  Some of us may even have counties we've never 
visited for any reason.

The rest of the rules:

• You simply list birds you see in each county in 2005
• Be honest and list everything you remember to list, no pretending not to 
see something, this is a pathetic list contest, not a no-list contest
• You do not need to visit each county, but should try to count what you 
happen to see in each county you visit
• It's ok to guess which county you are in, but you will be called names 
if you guess at the state unless you are along those confusing roads in 
northern Frederick and Washington counties that don’t always have signs
• Points will be deducted for every possible species not seen
• If you do not report starlings in every county for which you list any 
sightings you will be branded an idiot
• In order to assist the Atlas, you will get bonus deductions for 
confirming records of breeding owls and accipiters
• This list of rules may not be complete
• The rules are subject to change at any time
• The rules do not need to make sense and may be confusing, contradictory 
or downright misleading.  Don’t ask questions and I won’t tell lies.
• Winner will have the most believable pathetic list of 2005.
• I fully expect to win this myself
• You must be a state resident, not just on paper so no cheating!
• I will determine the winning loser
• Favoritism is possible
• Results are final unless I change my mind

This is a real contest! If you are interested, please let me know.
--
J. Steven Huy
Middletown, MD, USA



---- Jim Stasz <> wrote:

=============
Hi Folks!

After a successful 2004 trying to break 300 for a year in Maryland, a group 
of fanatics have persuaded me to set up a 2005 County List Competition.  The 
rules are not final yet, but points will be awarded at the end of 2005 and 
someone will go home with the 2005 Bragging Rights.

Points will be awarded for Total Ticks, Win-Place-or-Show in Annual County 
List for each of the 23 Maryland Counties. Bonus poimts will be awarded for 
each species found in all 23 counties in 2005. Bonus points will be awarded 
for confirming rails, owls and caprimulgids for the Atlas.  Bonus points for 
finding new State Records and new County Records.  Bonus points for setting 
a new high for an Annual County List.

To pare down the size of the competitiors, there are two standards that must 
be met by the end of 2005:

(1) Each 2005 County List must have at least 100 species.
(2) At least 25 species must be foumd in all 23 counties during 2005.

If you are interested, please let me know.

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD