Making a List

Lists aren't just for Santa Claus. With the start of the new year, it's a great time to begin a list of the birds you see.

Yesterday's BirdNote podcast talks about a woman who kept track of the 8,400+ bird species she saw in her lifetime. Although I can't compete with her list, two years ago, I started making my own bird lists using my Apple Keynote presentation application. I make lists for each season, for where I live, and for my home state of Washington. However, I only add to the lists after I get a picture of a bird. Once I have the photo and identify the species, I add a new slide to the presentation and include information about the date of the sighting and the specific place it occurred.

I enjoy keeping my bird lists and encourage you to try. You don't have to follow my photograph rule. Create your own way of doing it.

Now, make that list and check it often.