Date: 9/24/25 6:23 am From: Susanna Donato <susanna.donato...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Luck or Sheer Skill?
Just wanted to say that as a newer birder with limited time to bird, I
appreciate this fascinating discussion. I can only speak to the luck, as
I've had Merlin sometimes identify something I can't find/ID with any
confidence and would never dare claim with my growing but very limited
skill + knowledge base. It's a cruel irony that many of us will hopefully
have more time to bird when we retire, just as our eyes and ears launch a
real deterioration campaign! Thanks for sharing your insights, and here's
to good optics!
Susanna Donato
Denver
On Monday, September 22, 2025 at 9:45:17 PM UTC-6 Tony Leukering wrote:
> 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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