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2018 Big Year
Topic Started: Dec 27 2017, 08:05 PM (7,794 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
1. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
2. California Gull (Larus californicus)
3. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
4. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
5. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
7. American Coot (Fulica americana)
8. Rock Dove (Columba livia)
9. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
10. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
11. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
12. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
13. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
14. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
15. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
16. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
17. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
18. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
19. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
20. Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)
21. Ross’ Goose (Chen rossii)
22. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
23. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
24. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
25. Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
26. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
27. Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
28. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
29. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
30. Greenwing Teal (Anas caroliensis)
31. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
32. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
33. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
34. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
35. Ringbill (Aythya collaris)
36. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicana)
37. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
38. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
39. Northern Raven (Corvus corax)
40. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
41. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
42. California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californiana)
43. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
45. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
46. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
47. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
48. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Mammals
1. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
2. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)

Invertebrates
1. European Honeybee (Apis mellifera)


All seen today, through running errands & birdwatching on the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Complex [Main Complex]. The rail was incredible to see, darting from stand of reeds to stand of reeds, ahahaha.
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Danny
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January 3, 2018
BIRDS
22 - Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
23 - Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus)
24 - Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)
25 - Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)
26 - Australian Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
27 - White-Browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)
28 - Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)
29 - Australian Coot (Fulica atra)
30 - Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
31 - Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)
32 - Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
33 - White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
34 - Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
35 - Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
36 - Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
37 - Willy Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
38 - Red-Browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
39 - Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
40 - Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
41 - Long-Billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)
42 - Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)
43 - Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)
44 - Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
45 - Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Walked around Jells Lake for an hour and saw 22-38; 39-45 were seen at the Science Centre Lake at Monash Uni :)... Also the first time I've seen a pardalote - probably a mix of me not noticing most small birds in the past and the fact that they are difficult to spot anyway, but this little one was just a metre or so from me and I could see all his beautiful colours.

Total
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Keniafan
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2 January - Went with the train through the Dutch countryside and saw some nice species along the way. Including one lifer!

1 - Western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
2 - Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
3 - Feral pigeon (Columba livia)
4 - House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
5 - Herring gull (Larus argentatus)
6 - Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
7 - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
8 - Coot (Fulica atra)
9 - Widgeon (Anas penelope)
10 - Great egret (Casmerodius albus)
11 - Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
12 - Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
13 - Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
14 - Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
15 - Common blackbird (Turdus merula)
16 - Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)
17 - Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
18 - Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
19 - Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
20 - Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus major)
21 - Greylag goose (Anser anser)
22 - Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata)
23 - Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
24 - Tundra bean goose (Anser serrirostris)
25 - Great crested grebe(Podiceps cristatus)
26 - Gadwall (Anas strepera)


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cassynatorium
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~3 january~

13- eurasian coot, fulica atra
14- carrion crow, corvus corone
15- mallard, anas platyrhynchos
16- eurasian siskin, spinus spinus
17- common moorhen, gallinula chloropus
18- great cormorant, phalacrocorax carbo


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Danny
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January 4, 2018
BIRDS
46 - Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
47 - Australian Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)
48 - Australian Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)
49 - Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
50 - Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)

All seen at Jells Park :)

Also saw an Australasian Swamphen eating an eel, which was quite interesting!

Total
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Went looking for a penduline tit that has been wintering in the same spot for a while now (and that I saw last year, in November), but because of unexpected rain it didn't come out. Did get some other birds, though!

BIRDS:
45) Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
46) Canada goose, Branta canadensis
47) Green woodpecker, Picus viridis
48) Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
49) Common reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
50) Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
51) Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
52) House sparrow, Passer domesticus
53) Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla

MAMMALS:
1) European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus

Total
Edited by Anton, Jan 4 2018, 08:11 AM.
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Keniafan
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The second day I saw birds it was from the place where I study to the place my parents live, 3,5 hours of birding! Although the rain made it hard to catch a lot of the small birds that were passing by the train, I did see 4 new species!

27 - Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
28 - Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
29 - Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
30 - Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)

Went birding around my home town and saw some nice passerines as well as waterfowl!

31 - Great tit (Parus major)
32 - Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
33 - European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
34 - Common pochard (Aythya ferina)
35 - Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
36 - Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
37 - European greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
38 - Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
39 - European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
40 - Common goldeye (Bucephala clangula)
41 - Black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
42 - Red-crested pochard (Netta rufina)
43 - Coal tit (Periparus ater)
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Posted Image Wes
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Aurora Designs Member

Okay I'll try this as well:
January 1-4

Birds:
1) Carrion crow, Corvus corone
2) Common raven, Coruvus corax
3) White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus
4) Great tit, Parus major
5) Willow tit, Poecile montanus
6) Marsh tit, Poecile palustris
7) Coal tit, Periparus ater
8) Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistis caeruleus
9) Common blackbird, Turdus merula
10) Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus
11) Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
12) Dunnock, Prunella modularis
13) Western jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
14) House sparrow, Passer domesticus
15) Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
16) Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
17) European robin, Erithacus rubecula
18) Eurasian magpie, Pica pica

Mammals:
1) Human, Homo sapiens
Edited by Wes, Jan 4 2018, 10:59 AM.
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Orca Freak
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Killer Whales rule the World

Let's see if I can keep up with all of you :P

January 1st - 4th:
Spotted in my backyard or while walking my dog

Birds:
1. Common wood pigeon - Columba palumbus
2. Eurasian collared dove - Streptopelia decaocto
3. Eurasian coot - Fulica atra
4. Common moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
5. Common kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
6. Western jackdaw - Corvus monedula
7. Eurasian magpie - Pica pica
8. Great tit - Parus major
9. Eurasian blue tit - Parus caeruleus
10. Long-tailed tit - Aegithalos caudatus
11. Eurasian wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
12. Common blackbird - Turdus merula
13. Mistle thrush - Turdus viscivorus
14. European robin - Erithacus rubecula
15. House sparrow - Passer domesticus
16. Common chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
17. European goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
18. Little owl - Athene nocuta
19. Common kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
20. Common buzzard - Buteo buteo
21. Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
22. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
23. Greylag goose - Anser anser
24. Canada goose - Branta canadensis
25. Great cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
26. European herring gull - Larus argentatus
27. Black-headed gull - Larus ridibundus

Mammals:
1. European rabbit - Oryctolagus cuniculus
2. Feral cat - Felis silvestris catus

Edited by Orca Freak, Jan 4 2018, 11:52 AM.
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Lovely list, OF! I'm very jealous of the little owl, those would be a lifer for me :P

However, the feral cat caught my eye. Are you sure it's an actual self-sustaining feral population, and not just a wandering pet? As those are captive animals and cannot be counted... :D
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Zoo Tycooner FR
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#Lithopédion

Zoo Tycooner FR
Jan 1 2018, 01:00 PM
Starting off with birds from my garden (and around) :P

BIRDS
1) Barbary dove, Streptopelia risoria
2) Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
3) Feral pigeon, Columba livia domestica
4) Spotless starling, [Sturnus unicolor
5) House sparrow, Passer domesticus
Gosh I really need to go bird-watching as soon as possible, in the meantime though I finally got bulbuls which are meant to be super common #lol:

6 - Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus barbatus
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Orca Freak
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Killer Whales rule the World

Anton
Jan 4 2018, 02:07 PM
Lovely list, OF! I'm very jealous of the little owl, those would be a lifer for me :P

However, the feral cat caught my eye. Are you sure it's an actual self-sustaining feral population, and not just a wandering pet? As those are captive animals and cannot be counted... :D
There are dozens of feral :catz: near my home. They belong to no one and can be a real pain xD
The only good thing I can say about them is that they keep the mice population under control.
I don't like those cats, and my cats don't like them either >:(
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Posted Image Wes
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Aurora Designs Member

Wow OF, like Anton said, impressive list already d:
never seen a little owl before, so that's defenitely a good find!
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caviar
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January 3, 2018

BIRDS
28 - Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)
29 - Blue-black Grassquit (Volantinia jacarina)

January 4, 2018

BIRDS
30 - Yellow-bellied Siskin(Spinus xanthogastrus)
31 - Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Soooooo...I never went Birding :( , but i managed to see 2 new species in the surroundings of my hometown.

I'm still gonna try to go tomorrow, though.

Edited by caviar, Jan 4 2018, 10:23 PM.
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Danny
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January 5, 2018
MAMMALS
4 - Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

BIRDS
51 - Australian King-Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)
52 - Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)
53 - Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
54 - White-Eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis)

REPTILES
1 - Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum)

Went to a spot I hadn't visited before late in the afternoon, hoping to spot platypuses and koalas... Didn't see either but still a couple of nice animals, including a very big male kangaroo eating at the bank of the river. Also heard heaps of skinks in the bushes, but only managed to see one.

Total
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