birdsoup

One of the first semi-serious birders I encounter when I started out years ago was a Brit named Bob Trot, an interesting character.  I remember how he applied the classic characteristics of Type A and Type B personalities to birding. 

Like the typical hard driving Type A personality, a Type A birder rises at dawn, rushes to a nature center, races down trails checking off as many species as possible, then hurries to another hot spot to tally even more birds.  He will drive hours to spend five minutes ticking off a reported rarity.  His most valuable possession is his Life List, Year List, Day List.  More is better.  Type As enjoy accumulating ticks more than watching birds.

Bob was a Type B birder.  He felt you should find a good location and settle in.  Let the birds adapt to your presence.  Have a cup of tea and let the birds come to you.  He felt that the movement involved in constant rushing caused the birds to withdraw.  Being quiet, you blend in with the surrounding.  Birds ignore you and go on with their normal lives.  And you can get to know the birds.

There is some truth to Bob’s philosophy.   Consider the results from the annual Big Sit  – that is an event where participants stay within a 17 foot diameter circle and count how many different species they can see in one day.   Typical results for the Big Sit in Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers have seen upwards of 60-70 species.  I’ve been on many walks that involved driving great distances, hiking for miles through some unpleasant terrain and only tallying half the many birds.  Why bother?

Try to slot your birding friends into a Type A or Type B personality.  Most people are little bit of both.  But every now and then you encounter a pure Type A.  In that case, count be out.