Date: 9/22/25 8:45 pm From: 'Tony Leukering' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Luck or Sheer Skill?
All:
I agree with every point Cathy made, but I'll amplify her point... about
waterbirds, particularly.
On many occasions, I've observed other birders faced with a largish mass of
ducks (>100), scan through quickly, take a guess as to the size of the
flock, then apportion that number among the four or five species they
identified... but missing the female Northern Pintail and the two
alternate-plumaged male Green-winged Teal. These observers "saw" all the
birds present, but they didn't IDENTIFY all the birds present.
Unless such flocks are massive, I count every bird of every species present
for two reasons. The first is obvious: Getting accurate data into eBird.
The second, and at times, the more important reason, is to force myself to
look at and IDENTIFY every bird present. I have found unusual, rare, and
very rare species on many occasions using this technique, but, more
importantly, I frequently find the one or two individuals of other expected
species overlooked by others.
The same technique is useful (but often frustrating due to the frequent
movement of individuals or many birds) with sparrow flocks and other
mixed-species aggregations of birds. Look through the early-spring Savannah
Sparrow flocks and find a Vesper Sparrow. Sort through the large, mobile
flocks of winter Lapland Longspurs to find the one or two Chestnut-collared
or Thick-billed longspurs. One time (with Jason Beason), watching for
migrating raptors in September slightly above treeline in San Juan County,
just south of Ouray County, we had a long line of Steller's Jays flying
south (uphill) toward and past us. I counted them... and found a Western
Scrub-Jay as the tail-end-Charlie.
My take-home message: Look at and actually identify every bird you can get
your eyeballs or bins on.
Tony Leukering
Denver
On Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 1:35:28 PM UTC-6 Cathy Sheeter wrote:
>
> 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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