Hi Julian,
I'm actually not surprised that, "... while clicking on “Canada” produces
nothing...." If you consider that January 1st is mid-winter in Canada, making
it through to spring with a bird-a-day would be very difficult in most of
Canada. I suspect it could be done in south coastal British Columbia, but
likely not anywhere else. Where I live, in southeastern BC, I doubt there are
enough birds around in the winter to make it even to the end of February. Now
if we could start our year on March 1st, we'd be able to make a go of it, but
once again, we'd be in trouble in the last three months!
Gary Davidson
Nakusp, BC
Canada
On Saturday, April 12, 2014 3:06:26 PM, Julian Bielewicz
<> wrote:
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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