Subject: [IBLE] An April 1 Comparison and a "Challenge" to
Montana
One-fourth of 2005
is behind us...and I thought it would be interesting to compare the cumulative
total number of species seen in Idaho thus far through 3/31 with my Big Year
pace in 2004 through the same date. The list for the state as of
yesterday (3/31) stood at 184 whereas at the same juncture last year my list
stood at 173. There have not been any birds sighted yet that I did not
see during my Big Year, but Spring is always a good time for that kind of
thing to happen.
Montana did a
cumulative Big Year in 2004 and to my understand is doing one again this
year. It would be fun to see which of our two states ends 2005 with a
larger total (a suggestion first put forward by Lisa Hardy). Maybe we
could even have prizes...For instance, if they "win" we could send their Bird
Records Committee an "official Idaho spud," or they could just send us a deed
for a portion of the "Big Sky" if we end with the larger total. How about it
Montana? You're the bigger state, with the bigger list, with more
chances at "normally occurring" eastern species. (Hey, Utah or NV are you out
there too? Oregon and Washington are automatic "no-wins" for ID, but
what the heck, we'll give it our best for anyone!)
Harry
Krueger
Boise
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