[Tweeters] How to 'target' a species?

[Jerry Tangren via Tweeters]

Networking will certainly help. Try contacting those who most frequent the hotspots you‘re considering.

—Jerry Tangren

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________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2025 9:26:28 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] How to 'target' a species?

Hi,

   I'm wondering what others do to target (seek out and find) a specific
bird species?


          I am -not- talking about rare/unusual birds ... I'm interested
in viewing and

          photographing species that are new to me.


   I look on eBird and find pics and checklists and pay attention to the
date and

location - usually I can find a few sightings here in Skagit that are from

approximately the same date.  And the pics help to understand probable

habitat for a sighting.  But going to the same location often does not

produce that bird - and usually is even an 'unbirdy' location. Even checking

recent checklists on eBird does not produce a high probability of finding

any particular species.


   I do most of my birding alone, I'm 80 so I can't just go scramble up a

mountain easily.  I'm pretty poor about birding-by-ear ... I hear the

birds (most of the time) but id-ing them is not one of my strong skills.

I don't carry a scope - I have a long lens on my camera and use it.

However, I usually find the bird visually before I use the camera.  I go

birding about 3 to 5 times a week and  usually for 3 to 5 hours -

always with my camera.


   Is there something else that you do that I'm not doing?

                           - Jim in Skagit

P.S. An example of this kind of search is the Northern Pygmy Owl which I

        just looked up today ... but have close to zero confidence I'd
be able to

        find one in even a week of birding.


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