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2018 Big Year
Topic Started: Dec 27 2017, 08:05 PM (7,777 Views)
Anton
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King of Cotingas

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If there's one thing that brings all of the TRT members together, it's the love of animals. For most members this probably means an interest in zoos and animals in captivity in general, but there are a lot of members interested in observing wild animals as well.

Those that do are probably familiar with the "big year" concept: keeping track of all animals you see within a single calendar year. This can be done within a certain region (which is how the idea and name came to existence, after birders aimed to see as many species within the USA in one single year), but because we have members from all over the world we decided world listing would be more interesting.

Basically, the idea is as follows; from the 1st of January until the 31st of December, everyone who participates keeps track of the animals they see and identify, and lists them all in the order of seeing them. Every time you see a new species, you add onto that list by posting a new post in this topic. At the end of the year you can then easily compile a total list of the animals you saw that year, and keep the memories of seeing those species forever!
Of course, we'll add a little extra competition by bringing pointies into the mix. You'll be rewarded in pointies for every few animals you see, and at the end of each month the person with the most new species will be given a silhouette!

Rules:
  • Number your lists. This way it's always easy to check how many species you've seen.
  • We keep track of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. If you choose to only list the groups that interest you most, that's fine! A lot of people generally don't bother counting invertebrates.
  • Keep different lists for different classes (except with fish and invertebrates, list all different fish classes together and all different invertebrate classes together for those). Separate the lists for birds, mammals, reptiles etc. from each other.
  • Highlight the species you see for the first time ("lifers") in bold. This makes for a more interesting overview, and makes the listing of species more rewarding as you can draw more attention to the species that are more special to you!
  • We only list species, not subspecies, to prevent taxonomical debates. However, if you see a different subspecies worth mentioning, it's always interesting to include that in your post (without numbering it and putting it on the list). Hybrid animals don't count either.
  • We only list species we've seen directly, not species we've only heard. Similarly to different subspecies, it's always interesting to add the heard-only species to your post without listing them!
  • We only list actual wild species, escaped exotic species don't count unless they've become self-established (like feral pigeons everywhere, ring-necked parakeets in Europe and common starlings in North America).
  • List common names and binominal names of all species you see. Common names differ immensely per bird checklist (Clements, IOC, etc.), so to keep things clear we ask this as a requirement.
  • You are welcome to join in after January, but people starting in another month will not be counted for the first month they enter. For example, if you join in March and immediately have a list of 50+ species when most of these were seen in January and February, it'd be unfair to others that already saw the majority of their species in January, when the competition for "new" species was a lot higher.
  • You do not have to provide photographic evidence, your word is your bond. We trust our members won't lie about seeing things they didn't just to get a higher score.

Prizes:
  • On the first day of every month starting February 1st, I will be giving an overview of how many species of each category people have seen in total. I will also calculate how many species everyone gained compared to the previous month.
  • For every species you gained compared to the previous month, you will receive 5 pointies for use in the pointies store.
  • The person with the most species gained that month will receive a pointies animal.

Extra:
  • The double-posting rule will be less strict here than it is in other areas of the forum (as it's possible that you see something new before someone else has), but keep it sensible. Try not to post list updates twice in the same day if you see or identify another species later, it's easier to just edit your previous post.
  • Have fun!
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Replies:
Fireplume
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Snok Snok Snerson

BIRDS:
137. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
138. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
139. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
140. Bluewing Teal (Anas discors)
141. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
142. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
143. Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)

MAMMALS:
14. American Beaver (Castor fiber)
15. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis pacifica)
16. Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

HERPTILES:
5. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

FISH:
4. Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

INVERTEBRATES
13. Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
14. Orange Rump Bumblebee (Bombus crotchii)

TOTAL LIST
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Posted Image Wes
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Aurora Designs Member

Little update for the past month:

Birds:
74) European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
75) Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
76) Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
77) Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
78) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
79) Red kite, Milvus milvus
80) Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
81) Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
82) Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius
83) Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca

Amphibians:
2) Common frog, Rana temporaria

Invertebrates:
1) Orangetip, Anthocharis cardamines
2) Speckled wood, Pararge aegeria
3) European peacock, Aglais io
4) Common brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni
5) Small white, Pieris rapae
6) Green-veined white, Pieris napi
7) Maiden's blush, Cyclophora punctaria
8) Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Total
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Danny
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May 1, 2018
Very pretty little male of this lifer! Can't wait to be able to find a little extra time to look for wildlife in a few weeks :)

This also means I am 33 away from my year goal of 200 birds for my state!

BIRDS
171 - Rose Robin (Petroica rosea)

Posted Image

Total
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Keniafan
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Last 2 birds for april!

145 - Lesser whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
146 - Common whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
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Orca Freak
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Killer Whales rule the World

Lets finish up for april :P

Birds:
85. Northern pintail - Anas acuta
86. Eurasian tree sparrow - Passer montanus

Mammals:
7. Greater white-toothed shrew - Crocidura russula


Some pics I took in my garden

Total list
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Zoo Tycooner FR
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#Lithopédion

Zoo Tycooner FR
Apr 5 2018, 05:52 PM
Zoo Tycooner FR
Mar 25 2018, 08:34 AM
Birding in Issen as usual but this time I tried to reach remote areas and it seems like it paid off: a lifer!

42 - Common linnet, Linaria cannabina
43 - European greenfinch, Carduelis chloris

EDIT:

Completely forgot my first mammal as well! :P

MAMMALS:
1 - Barbary ground squirrel, Atlantoxerus getulus
Spent a week in Fès, was not bad I guess... was awesome

44 - Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
45 - Garganey, Spatula querquedula
46 - Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
47 - Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
48 - Black kite, Milvus migrans
49 - Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
50 - Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
51 - Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
52 - Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
53 - Woodlark, Lullula arborea
54 - Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
55 - Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs africana
56 - Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra


Finally a new bird addition (from April):

57 - Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
Edited by Zoo Tycooner FR, May 1 2018, 11:25 AM.
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Posted Image Xenephos
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ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssᴇᴅ

Over the past "few" days I've seen a TON of turkeys, a tiny borb I've never seen (probably because it was so tiny), some other birds, and some of the more disappointing signs of warm weather.

BIRDS:
35. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
36. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
37. Chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica)
38. Rock Dove (Columba livia)

INVERTS:
5. Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) <- Oof
6. Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittata)
7. Hoverfly (Syrphidae sp.)

All Species Seen
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

BIRDS:
215) Garden warbler, Sylvia borin

Total
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

And while yesterday's bird was seen during class, today's were seen before classes even started! Went to my local spot to try and find two rarities that have been staying around there (Savi's warbler and purple heron), only heard the Savi's warbler again but did see the purple heron and a few other nice birds!

BIRDS:
216) Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
217) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
218) Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
219) Water rail, Rallus aquaticus

INVERTEBRATES:
20) Green-veined white, Pieris napi

Total


One of my favorite birds, a bearded reedling, put on quite the show today as well! They usually don't go up this high in the reeds until the end of summer, when the insect populations decline and they're forced to go foraging up higher for food.

Posted Image
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

APRIL
Overview
April 2018
BIRDS:
214 - Anton
187 - caviar
171 - Danny
146 - Keniafan
143 - Fireplume
105 - Kevin
86 - Orca Freak
83 - Wes
73 - Furka
66 - Komodo
57 - Zoo Tycooner FR
39 - magpiealamode
38 - cassynatorium
34 - Xenephos
24 - Gerben
17 - Dwarfbomb
10 - Burns
10 - Jules
1 - Paranoid
1 - RGDS

MAMMALS:
20 - Danny
16 - Fireplume
11 - Anton
9 - Komodo
8 - Keniafan
8 - Xenephos
7 - Orca Freak
7 - Wes
5 - Kevin
5 - magpiealamode
4 - Burns
4 - Furka
3 - cassynatorium
3 - caviar
2 - Dwarfbomb
1 - Jules
1 - Zoo Tycooner FR

HERPS:
17 - Danny (15 reptiles, 2 amphibians)
13 - Furka (9 reptiles, 4 amphibians)
7 - Anton (5 reptiles, 2 amphibians)
5 - Fireplume (3 reptiles, 2 amphibians)
4 - Komodo (4 reptiles)
4 - Orca Freak (4 amphibians)
3 - Kevin (3 amphibians)
2 - Dwarfbomb (2 reptiles)
2 - Wes (2 amphibians)
2 - Zoo Tycooner FR (2 reptiles)
1 - Keniafan (1 amphibian)

FISH:
20 - Furka
7 - Danny
4 - Anton
4 - Fireplume
4 - Komodo
3 - Paranoid
1 - Keniafan
1 - Wes

INVERTS:
21 - Komodo
19 - Anton
14 - Fireplume
10 - Orca Freak
8 - Wes
4 - Xenephos
3 - Kevin
2 - Zoo Tycooner FR
1 - Dwarfbomb
1 - Keniafan

Species gained this month
April 2018
74 - Anton
43 - Orca Freak
32 - Furka
27 - Danny
27 - Keniafan
19 - Wes
17 - Zoo Tycooner FR
14 - Fireplume
5 - Xenephos
1 - magpiealamode


Everybody will receive their pointies (5x their monthly gains) as soon as possible! If I have made a counting mistake somewhere, or forgot to add an animal to the total lists, please let me know via PM as not to clutter this topic.
If you saw other species during April that you hadn't had the chance to post until now, please mention so in your post and I can edit these lists.

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Danny
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My goals for the year:
170/200 Victorian birds
174/300 Worldwide birds

BIRDS
172 - Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)
173 - Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
174 - White-Necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)

Total
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Seeing a bunch of insects in my garden lately!

INVERTEBRATES:
21) Holly blue, Celastrina argiolus
22) Cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha
23) Large red damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula
24) Large white, Pieris brassicae

Total
Edited by Anton, May 7 2018, 02:12 PM.
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Zoo Tycooner FR
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#Lithopédion

Forgot to list one bird for April. :P

58 - Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
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Komodo
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Varanus komodoensis

Seen a bunch of new critters for the first weekend of May!

BIRDS
67. American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
68. White-Backed Stilt, Himantopus melanurus
69. Grey Gull, Leucophaeus modestus
70. Cinnamon Teal, Spatula cyanoptera
71. Red Shoveler, Spatula platalea

HERPS:
5. Wreath Tree Iguana, Liolaemus lemniscatus

INVERTEBRATES:
22. Rough Woodlouse, Porcellio scaber

Complete List
Edited by Komodo, May 7 2018, 10:56 PM.
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

And a few new very good birds from today! Red-backed shrikes (and all shrikes, actually) are rare in my area so I was very happy to see this bird, and I can't complain about the lifer either!

BIRDS:
220) Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
221) Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris

INVERTEBRATES:
25) Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae

Total
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