Well, there have been some statements to the effect that "I had a bird" is
perfectly OK because it's communication that everyone understands. It just
means the same as "I saw a bird," right? Then why don't people simply say
"saw?"

Compare these phrases:

We saw fish at the aquarium. We had fish at the aquarium.

I saw Beverly Mattawa at the party. I had Beverly Mattawa at the party.

I saw a baconburger at Kidd Valley. I had a baconburger at Kidd Valley.

I saw an accident on the way to work. I had an accident on the way to work.

Need I go on? This use of "to have" for birds really is something
different, and, just as Townsend's Warbler doesn't imply possession, I
think "I had" does, a sign of the possessive aspect of birding. "I got it
for the year" means there's a square somewhere, mental or physical, that
then can be filled with a check mark. "I had 30 Bohemian Waxwings in my
yard" is somehow just a little more than "I saw 30 Bohemian Waxwings in my
yard." No one would say "I had Joe downtown last week." "I had" is not
the same as "I saw," and that's really the only point I wanted to make. I
don't think it's just adherence to purity of language that makes me shy
away from telling people I had a bird.

"Lighten up, Dennis." OK. Sometimes getting something off your chest is
the best way to lighten up.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416