birding-aus

Bird-a-Day

To: "Aus Birding" <>
Subject: Bird-a-Day
From: "Julian Bielewicz" <>
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 08:06:03 +1000
Greetings All

A little late in the coming but I am in the process of adjusting to life as a 
retired, rather than an active, teacher and my timing remains somewhat askew.  
I should be near perfect by 1500 hours [3pm] on Friday 25 April [ANZAC Day] 
2014, the date of my “official” retirement; given the summer vacation and 
long-service leave I haven’t actually been in a classroom since mid-December 
2013.

For those involved in Trey Mitchell’s BIRD-A-DAY challenge, last Thursday [when 
this should have been posted] was something of at least a minor landmark – the 
100th day of the year, 100 different species seen on each day of 2014.  Yes, a 
gimmick and while I don’t usually involve myself in birding gimmicks I needed a 
laugh to herald in my approaching dotage.

As of yesterday [102 birds] there are four of us [Australians] running to form, 
another two [including Russell Woodford who made something of a dramatic 
comeback onto the lists] are currently only one bird behind but that almost 
undoubtedly means that they yet to register their bird for Saturday.  A further 
two challengers stand on 100 birds with another four Australians toting scores 
in the 90s.

On global terms, Mike Hooper of Singapore continues to rule the roost – always 
assuming that the top, left-hand spot equates to Numero Uno in the competition. 
 It is perhaps interesting to note that four of the six challengers around the 
world currently sporting 102 birds are Australians [Eleanor Marr of Florida 
being the other 102-er].

Mind you, the global composition of the challengers is perhaps worthy of a 
comment.  In essence, BIRD-A-DAY appears to be fundamentally an America vs 
Australia affair – with a few anomalies thrown in for good measure.  There is 
only one UK entrant, Roy Filleul of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands; the 
afore-mentioned Mike Hooper is the sole Singaporean entrant, indeed, the sole 
Asian entrant while clicking on “Canada” produces nothing.   No Kiwis, no South 
Africans or other Europeans. 

Who will still be there on 19 July, the 200th day, the 200th different bird?

Cheers

Julian

P.S. those of you kind enough to have followed my inane ramblings through Allen 
Road, Birding the South Burnett and even Birding Beyond the Pale [all now 
asleep] might like to follow the relentless drivel via Birder at Large:

http://osprey2014.wordpress.com/
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