Occasional fog will be only one of many challenges to finding as many birds as possible from one NJ yard in 2015.
In just over three years of living in our home here in New Jersey, I’ve seen 140 bird species and recorded flight calls of an additional 15 species as nocturnal migrants. How many birds can be found in one year in one NJ yard without access to open water? We’ll have to find out! Here are my species goals for the 2015 Backyard Big Year:
ABA listable observations: 150 species
To be countable by the rules of the American Birding Association, birds must among other things, be seen or heard in real time (see listing rules here). According to a new 2014 ruling, birds heard live through a recording microphone can be counted. So birds heard while I’m listening live through my OldBird 21c microphone will count towards this number. All these birds will be recorded on my personal eBird account.
Photographed birds: 150 species
For my own purposes, this will include birds photographed by a trail or critter cam deployed at a water feature or other area. I will post these images here on the site, and any bird photographed by an automatic camera will be posted to a new separate Fergus Trail Cam eBird account.
Sound Recorded birds: 150 species
This will include all species recorded with a remote microphone or the OldBird 21c microphone while I’m not listening. Those picked up by the microphones while I’m not listening will be listed on eBird separately in my Fergus NFC Listening Station account.
Total Species Recorded: ???
Here’s the big question. How many birds can I record from my property using any and all of these technological means possible? 160…180…more? I’m excited to find out!
