An interesting discussion, and clearly shows some interest in creating rules attached to what can and can't be counted. But it is also interesting to see that some of the latter comments seem to circle back around at the stance that people should tick what they are comfortable with, and that some would tick a released oriental cuckoo, whilst others wouldn't. This seems to go against the need for an absolute rulebook on what can and can't be ticked? Perhaps there are two separate issues here - a list that is able to be fairly compared to other birders in New Zealand using the same set of rules, and a personal list that adheres to ones own personal ethics? The whole reason I started the Birders' Total page on the Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ website was to create a platform for the former - a fair and even playing field, that was just for New Zealand (and didn't include parts of Australia!), and had a species list that was revised more frequently than the then ageing OSNZ checklist.
And the impetus was to leave it fairly simple on the Birders' Total page...
http://wrybill-tours.com/birders-totals/The rules that are on that page, and that which Birder's submitting totals to this page have hopefully been adhering to are pretty straight forward. And really THE ONLY thing that they do not currently consider are released birds. The rules are currently...
1. The Checklist to be used in this exercise is "The 'Official' New Zealand Birders checklist". The list can be downloaded as a PDF version here.
http://wrybill-tours.com/birders-totals/2. The geographical boundary for the list is defined as mainland New Zealand, offshore islands (all sub-antarctics and Chathams, not including Macquarie Island or Norfolk Island), its territories or anywhere within the 200 NM limit.
3. All species counted should be seen alive and in the wild (island populations are countable including all species on Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti Island, Ulva Island, etc.).
4. Beachcast birds, as long as they are still alive, are countable.
5. Birds must be seen, hearing calls or song of a species does not count.
6. Submissions should be honest, accurate and dated. Any entries for species not currently on the New Zealand checklist must be verified by the Rare/Unusual Birds Committee of the OSNZ.
7. Entries shall not be made without permission from the owner.
We could add an example into Rule 3 for Sirocco, that would be an example of what can and can't be ticked? A rewrite of that rule might be
3. All species counted should be seen alive and in the wild (island populations are countable including all species on Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti Island, Ulva Island, etc.). However, birds kept in cages in wild locations, or being 'road-showed' such as Sirocco the Kakapo, cannot be counted.
And I really don't see the point in adding in a list or class for 'professionals' vs 'amateurs' or for guides, DOC workers, or people with household earnings of more than $100K! I just think this distracts from the intention of the whole thing, to get out birding and have fun. What if a guide or DOC worker were to see a bird whilst birding on the weekend? Or what if a casual birder takes payment for a days birding with an overseas birder and sees a bird? Or what if a birder gets a one off job on a ship and sees a mega? Creating something like this will just mean getting bogged down in more rules than is worthwhile - keep it simple!
I am very happy to add in a rule (perhaps rule 4) on counting released birds as well. Open to working with Russ/AC/Steve/David and anyone else who wants to have a say. I think all of you guys have a Total on the Birders' Totals page anyway!
And whilst I agree the consensus now in the UK and ABA rules are that released birds are countable at the time of release, I also agree completely with the very well written thoughts of Russ earlier in the thread. For me, going to see a released bird as it flies from the box is not what attracts me to birding, or twitching. It is a myriad of things, but a large component is the 'what if'. As also outlined by David, twitching birds would be pointless if you got every bird you ever twitched, and I really feel NONE of us (who lead normal and sane lives - ha!) would bother if that was the case. So, whilst we might end up with a rule that released birds can be counted, would that mean I would bother to 'twitch' a released bird, probably not. And differing from AC, it wouldn't matter what species it was. I might go and see the bird if it was a lifer I was highly unlikely to see anywhere else in the World, but I wouldn't count it on my 'hand-against-heart NZ list'. For the sake of an even playing field it would go on my Birders' Totals list though.
I am very happy to have thoughts and comments on the above, and please if there are birders out there who would like to submit a total to me for the Birders' Totals page, then please just email me - brent @ waybill-tours.com (remove the spaces). Always happy to add more folks! After all this was never meant to be serious and 'legal' and always should be fun.
My 2c...send me an email with your totals if you haven't already, and please check your totals are up to date if they are already there.
Happy birding!