Subject: RE: When the lifers dry up--some advice
Date: Mar 17 18:33:15 1997
From: ChemBros99 at aol.com - ChemBros99 at aol.com


Hi Tweeters
I, being only 16 still have a long way untill I can say that my lifers
are driing up. They are certanly coming less frequently but still with
regularity. Getting a life bird that you find for your self I think is one
of the most rewarding expeirence in Birding. A rarebird even magnifies this
feeling. I have sympothy for those of you where this feeling has been
missing from your life. To maybe help your delema I am offering some advice.
Take it for what it's worth.
1. When The food runs out the heards of animals move. Likewise when the
lifers run out go where the lifers are. If you got the money you could take
a nice extended trip somewhere. Some of you may have noticed a few
englishmen birding the local area. You could do the same thing over in
Europe. Arizona is also a good place. If your retired go retire in Florida
or somewhere else in the sun belt and set up shop there. Make your
retirement exciteing. For those of us who arn't retired quite yet I have
some more options.
2. I know some hate the whole concept, but I and many others like it. This
is of course listing. Start a statelist if you don't already have one, or a
county, town, backyard, and even a feeder list. Its easy to go overboard
here. What are the odds that you'll have a Palagic cormorant land in your
yard in Yakima. Who knows, it could happen. Istead of place listing there
is always time listing. Start a year list, month list or even a day to day
list. I'm sure there is'nt a really good big day list in some months of the
year that arn't unatainable. All this could be a bit much, but there just
some ideas. Listing might not give you the same feeling as getting a lifer
but you should still get a good feeling about getting a county bird in an
area where you have have been birding a while.
3. Share your experience and expertise with others. I know I always get a
kick when some when else gets there first, something or another. Give back
to the birding community, lead a feild trip. Think of the joy you'll bring
to others. Who knows yu might even make some knew friends.
All of the advice above might be semi-obviose but it got me to
thinking about the day when the lifers dri up for me. I pray that day will
never come. So take that advice for what its worth, be it from a semi-new
birder. To those of you who have read this far, I'd like to pose a question
is birding a sport, hobby or art?

----Jason Coughlin-Starfire----
ChemBros99 at aol.com
Shoreline, WA