Just broke 100

Congrats on 100, keep it it going.

Thanks Paul.  Actually, the original post was back in July.  I am sitting around 222 right now.  If you look at this blog entry, it talks about my first year in birding which ended this week.  I need to post my birds that I saw this weekend to know where I am for the year, but I was over 100 for the year by January 3rd.  I did 4 Christmas Bird Counts, which helped. 

Here is a shortcut to my blog about my first year:

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/DDolan1075/10133/My+First+year+as+a+New+Birder.html

I was just going through my records for eBird and I realized that I have seen as many birds already this year as I saw all of  last year ( Well, from March 18 through the end of the year.)!  I am really hooked on these birds!  I have 242 lifers and 189 so far this year, not including some shorebirds that I need to go through from my trip to Galveston.

I have several things that have helped tremendously in terms of seeing so many birds.  First, I live in Texas, one of the greatest places for birding in the country. I have only really birded around Houston, the Galveston area and Austin, but those areas have more birds than I need to get a much larger number.

Second, I try to bird with somebody with more experience than me, but if that isn't possible, four eyes are better than two.  The IDs come quicker with a stronger birder so I can pay attention to the bird instead of my field guide.  Usually, there is a tip that I get in terms of identifying the birds that helps in the future.

 Third, I try to go out and get a good location to bird.  (I am not as much of a "Patch Birder" as some, although I try really hard to make a good location for the local birds to feed.  I spent all day in my backyard saturday on my computer going through my pictures of the previous trips to Galveston and High Island and saw a couple of new backyard birds, a Great Blue Heron and an Indigo Bunting, so I should probably work the backyard more, I just like the hotter spots if you know what I mean.) I have High Island, Galveston Island, Brazoria/ Brazos Bend NWR, and Hornsby Bend within a couple hours of my house.

Fourth, I work really hard when I bird.  I woke up early and drove to Brazos Bend last month and walked from before sunrise at 7 am until after sunset at 8 pm. My legs were hurting for over a week afterwards.  My time is important to me and I use it as much as possible.  I went to High Island with a friend and I thought that I was going to wear him out, but we have a relationship where he will rest his knee while I make another trip around the trails.  I did a CBC where the group wanted to sit in a donut shop for almost an hour, after we did the Owl count, during prime time Sunrise (I had a fit!).

Fifth, I bird with my camera.  (I know, a lot of birders hate birders with cameras, but that is the subject of another blog entry. )  I don't have to make the ID right there, I can take a picture and look at the bird for hours to make an ID (which I have done), or at least try.  Buying my camera has improved my birding so much I recommend that all beginners do it.

Congrats on the up coming number!! I too consider myself lucky to live in such a birdy state, but every time I read TEXBIRDS, I wish I lived on or closer to the coast. You have so much available to you in your area! I echo your reasons 1-4, but my camera skills are lacking (!) so I often leave my camera behind - and then regret it! I found that I was spending too much time trying to get the shot and missing too much behavior and opportunities to visualize the bird. I learn so much when I am able to bird with someone more experienced, but really just simply enjoy the company of a fellow birder, regardless of skill level. I agree, the more eyes the better and the harder you work at it & the more frequently you bird, the better you get. I really enjoy your posts and photos, along with your blog!

Thanks for sharing! I am hoping to bird a little more in your area - it will be worth the early morning drive; perhaps we will run into eachother sometime!

Congratulations Dave.  It took me close to 3 years to reach 250 lifers.  Great work!  I gotta get to Texas.  I'm sitting at 253, a Long-eared Owl in February of this year. 

Best of luck in reaching 250.  I'm sure you'll get there soon.

Bob

Thanks Bob!  Just reached 256 yesterday with 209 for the year.  High Island, what a place during April!  I got 14 lifers yesterday, and 4 the previous week!  I have 31 lifers since March 27th:

Dave, congratulations on surpassing 250 lifers.  Looks like I have some work to do to get ahead of you again. 

Bob