Date: 9/21/25 12:35 pm From: 'Cathy Sheeter' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Luck or Sheer Skill?
Having the good fortune to spend a season intently birding with a birder who seemed to have the Midas touch of finding rarities and state records (Steve Mlodinow), I would add the following qualities as traits that increase the odds for these birders. Hopefully Steve won’t mind my analysis ☺️
1. They are good ear birders. Often the presence of something unexpected is hearing a call or even a chip note that is unfamiliar or out of place. More than once, Steve recognized the vocalizations of birds he knew were rare in Colorado and we would then go visually find them. We were able to track down some good rarities based on his keen ears and knowledge of bird vocalizations.
2. They dedicate a significant amount of time to birding. As mentioned, someone spending an hour a week has a much lower chance of finding rarities than someone dedicating 20+ hours a week, or even more. Time = better results, without a doubt!
3. They bird a variety of habitats and locations, including many off the beaten path. While popular places, of course, often turn up results, the small pond or thicket of willows, the cemetery, and the dump also turn up rarities.
4. They pay attention to migration patterns and how weather and time of day affect birds. They are out early and late, out after a storm, watch wind directions, know when different species are on the move, etc.
5) They study nuances and really look at each bird. They don’t assume the flock of dark Ibis are all White-faced, but carefully study every bird for subtle traits that might help pull out a Glossy. They don’t assume the yellowish bellied flycatcher is a Western, but carefully study if it could be a Yellow-bellied.
6) They have decent equipment and will take time to use it. Steve always had both a scope and binoculars, and usually a camera with him in his car, and didn’t mind hiking with his scope if he thought it would be needed, and would easily spend 20-30 minutes scanning and counting a reservoir bird by bird. Careful and methodical birding likely turns up more rarities than casual or rushed birding.
7) Steve is an amazing “pisher”. I can pish and get a couple song sparrows to pop up. He would do it and sometimes have thirty birds appear in moments. Juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, kinglets, towhees, thrushes, woodpeckers, warblers and more! He pishes regularly as he is walking and stops often to scan. Some may find it annoying, but it worked.
Of course some aspect of luck is involved, but I would say it is maybe 10% luck and 90% effort and all the other things people have mentioned.
Fun discussion topic!
Cathy Sheeter
Arapahoe County
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