Rules of the Bird-a-Day Challenge

Bird-a-Day Rules:

1. Every day you add a new bird that you see or hear (not on the television, in a book or on the internet) to your list of birds for that date. You don't have to enter your observation each day, but in a timely manner post your observations for the rest of us to see.
2. You may not repeat the same bird or skip a day.
3. Any non-caged, non-captive, free flying bird is allowed; that is except for a chicken. We're not sure why chickens aren't allowed, but we accept the rule and live by it!
4. We operate by the honor system, just like any other bird list, it is your own. The competition is more with yourself than with others. Unless you live next door to someone who is participating, there is really no way make circumstances equal.
5. When your time to end is near do your best and consider what you can do to improve next year. Don't break the bank flying around the country chasing the next bird.... that is unless you own the bank.
6. Encourage others who are participating and keep others up to date about the great birds you will ultimately find throughout the year.
7. Have Fun! Enjoy getting outside and watching the birds.

The Prize:

At some point during the year "you will be unable to see or hear a new bird" to add to your list. When this happens you have completed the race and have established for yourself a mark to try and better next year.
During your attempt to go deep into the year you will undoubtedly see many more birds than you would have if you hadn’t attempted the challenge. Pat yourself on the back and know you did your best.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

February 23 - Snail Kite


We started out our last full day in Florida at Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge at day break. We helped out with a morning flight count, mostly waders and blackbirds. They all roost in the Everglades across the canal from the Lox impoundments. Thousands of Ibis and Egrets fly out every morning. We were hoping to find Snail Kites flying out of a roost there, but they moved the roost due to lack of food from the late summer and autumn drought. We've counted as many as 52 birds using the roost in past years. We added a few new birds to our trip list, Rough-winged Swallow, Marsh Wren and Blue-headed Vireo. No Snail Kites. We visited Wellington Environmental Preserve after lunch and found 1 Snail Kite there. We found at least 15 Limpkins and new birds, Scaup, Caspian Tern and Savannah Sparrow. We finished off the day at Green Cay where some regulars found momma Bobcat with 1 young. My last photo of the trip was of the young Bobcat shot through the blowing grasses, seen below. A nice trip with 110 species seen without chasing anything.
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