Awesome!
Thanks!


Faye McAdams Hands

Life is Simple -- Eat, Sleep, Bird.

________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Dick <dick at dkporter.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 4:20 PM
To: 'Dave Slager' <dave.slager at gmail.com>; 'Tweeters' <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] ABA listing area to include Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia


Thanks for the scoop on this. Problem though, I prefer to fly Alaska.



Dick



From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Dave Slager
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 3:42 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] ABA listing area to include Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia



Tweeters,



Exciting news just posted on the American Birding Association website that effective immediately, the ABA listing area now includes Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. I couldn't agree more with the ABA that this represents "the next logical move after the recent addition of Hawaii to the ABA checklist area".



Reasons cited for extending the ABA area to most of the Pacific islands include the fact that this region includes part of the United States (Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands), and a large number of threatened and endangered species and island endemics. Having these species within the ABA listing area will help these taxa get recognized for targeted conservation efforts. In addition, many of these other Pacific islands share some biogeographic affinities to some Hawaiian bird taxa, so the addition also "makes perfect biological sense".



On a personal level, I'm looking forward to someday adding birds from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji to my ABA list. And the Tuamotu Sandpiper!



A few other details about the change:



1) The ABA is currently considering tweaks to the Big Day rules to pre-empt issues associated with crossing the international date line during big days.



2) Because a large number of difficult-to-access species are being added, all birds that average at least one record per year on the North American continent will be reduced to Code 1 status.



3) This addition represents lots of new species which is great for birders, but significantly more overhead for the ABA in maintaining its checklist, list of exotics, etc. To this end, the ABA has announced a special partnership with Boeing and the American Airlines alliance, who are co-sponsoring the changes. Furthermore, to offset carbon emissions associated with birders flying to various islands in the South Pacific, the co-sponsors will be emailing a $5 e-coupon redeemable at any local farmer's market with each flight confirmation if you enter the special birder offer code "GREENBUL" during checkout.



Exciting changes!



Dave Slager

Seattle, WA
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