2002 YARDLIST CHALLENGE
The results are in...we had 121 species from 10
yards this past year compared to 117 species from 13 yards in 2001. We had only
105 species in common to both years, losing 12 while gaining 16 other birds in
2002.
A whopping 7 species were seen by all
participating listers: Canada Goose, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Song
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin and Evening Grosbeak.
Twenty-six species (21%) were seen by only one
participant.
Some waterbird highlights were the Double-crested
Cormorant seen by Kris Buchler, Barrow’s Goldeneye seen by Laura Bayless, and
the American Wigeon seen by Shirley Sturts. Northern birds of prey were well
represented by Steve Lindsay’s Northern Goshawk, Lynn Sheridan’s Northern
Harrier and Janet Callen’s Northern Shrike. Landbird highlights included the
Severtson’s Gray Catbird, the Waring’s Brewer’s Blackbird, and Theresa Potts’
White-throated Sparrow.
Lynn Sheridan’s favorite bird of the year was a
Varied Thrush, which, unexpectedly for this elusive species, showed up for all
but one participant in the challenge.
Jan Severtson’s favorite, the dramatic Pileated
Woodpecker, showed up on 4 lists.
The yardlist challenge can be viewed as a
challenge to ourselves, testing our observational skills and, at least for me
personally, our ability to remember to write it down. The sense of
accomplishment that comes from adding another species to the list is impetus to
spend a little extra time scanning through a flock for an oddball, such as a
White-winged Crossbill amongst the Red
Crossbills, or a Fox Sparrow in with the Song Sparrows. I hope your 2003 lists
are starting to shape up!
AOU
CHECKLIST ORDER:
|
SPECIES |
JC |
SL |
TP |
JHS |
LS |
JPW |
KB |
LB |
LH |
SS |
total
2002 |
|
TOTAL SPECIES |
51 |
27 |
50 |
46 |
31 |
44 |
70 |
54 |
79 |
47 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Loon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
|
x |
3 |
|
Western Grebe |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
1 |
|
Red-necked Grebe |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
2 |
|
Double-crested Cormorant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
2 |
|
Great Blue Heron |
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
4 |
|
Tundra Swan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
2 |
|
Canada Goose |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
10 |
|
Green-winged Teal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
1 |
|
Mallard |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
4 |
|
American Wigeon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
1 |
|
Canvasback |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
1 |
|
Common Goldeneye |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
x |
3 |
|
Barrow's Goldeneye |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
1 |
|
Bufflehead |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
|
x |
3 |
|
Hooded Merganser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
1 |
|
Common Merganser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |