Hi Patrick,
that's an interesting question re keeping lists for little ones. I'm in two
minds about it, but have been thinking about it again recently having a 5 1/2
year old who is intermittently interested in birds and a 20 month old who is
crazy about them (his favourite book is a Steve Parish pocket book of birds and
the Birds of the Blue Mountains booklet comes a close second, followed by a
bird calendar). I wonder whether perhaps the list would be more for my benefit
than his, although the 5 year old would probably enjoy a list he could make
himself (with pictures/photos). I can't even keep my own life list up to date
so I think it would be a challenge for me.
I'm thinking of buying them an exercise book each and just writing in birds
they've seen and putting in pictures of birds they've seen really well with
some observations and details about the event - more like a diary than a bird
list per se. I'd be interested in other people's ideas.
I don't know how valid it is to make a list for a child before they turn three?
- they're just too young, and if they turn into birders who list (or even
twitchers!) .... shouldn't there be a rule that you can remember the bird?
Having said that, they would probably appreciate it at some point (when they're
30).
Cheers,
Arwen
.........................................
Arwen Blackwood
> Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 10:36:14 +1000
> From:
> To:
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Perth Airport Birding, Kids lists and Northern Pintail
>
> Hello All,
> I followed up Tim Dolby's report and was very keen to see a Tawny-crowned
> Honeyeater at Perth Airport. So upon landing, we had a go at finding the
> location. Eventually we discovered it was very close to the domestic
> terminal. If anyone is interested, after picking up a hire car, head to the
> exit and at the roundabout that signposts Perth and International Terminal,
> turn left towards International and Boud Avenue is the first left. We
> turned into Boud Avenue and birds were zipping about in the flowering
> * *Grevilleas
> on each side of the road with a factory warehouse on one side and Post
> Office depot on the other. It was a huge thrill to see White-cheeked
> Honeyeaters and they looked different to the ones we had seen on Stradbroke
> Island last year. The bill and the cheek patch looked different to me. Upon
> looking at my old 5th ed of Simpson and Day, I discovered that as with many
> other birds there is a WA race of this magnificant bird, and that the
> western race has a longer bill. When I checked my new 8th Ed on coming home,
> S & D have added that the western race also has a smaller cheek patch. I had
> wanted to see this bird in WA and had dipped on other times, so thank you
> very much Tim. Singing Honeyeaters were in abunance and Deb saw a Brown
> Honeyeater. No luck with the Tawny-crowned and I looked at the bushland
> mentioned by Tim as well.
>
> While staying with friends and I was looking after bubs so that Deb could
> get a rest, a Singing HE came right onto the table we were sitting at. Bubs
> was watching keenly the whole thing and as the Singing HE came right up to
> us she flapped her arms with excitement and off it went. A few minutes later
> while standing under a tree holding bubs, a Brown HE came to a branch
> around half a meter away. I'm thinking of starting a bird list for her. Do
> any other parents of babies do the same?
>
> The unexpected highlight for me was the Northern Pintail. I phoned Sue
> Abbotts, thinking of going out with her on an organised trip. Sue mentioned,
> had I heard that the Northern Pintail was around, but not having a computer,
> I wasn't aware of it. Finding out that it was a female and finding that my S
> & D said it was hard to ID, I phoned Sue again. She said that it was quite a
> striking bird. I managed to get hold of a computer briefly and wrote down
> John Graffs excellent instructions and looked at the video and photos. The
> next morning I set off and after several wrong turns I ended up at the park
> at the end of Abbotswood Park Way. While standing at the parklike lake,
> (which gives no hint of being a stones throw from the magnificant Peel
> Inlet) I got a bit confused so phoned Sue (at around 7am). With her help I
> walked to the right and around a sandy track to find the tiny lake and in a
> few seconds the Northern Pintail came into sight. It was a unbelievable
> "dude" experience of a mega rarity, and one I had thought I'd have no chance
> of seeing. So a huge thank you to John Graff for finding the bird and to Sue
> Abbotts for giving me a great birding experience.
> Happy birding,
> Patrick Scully
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