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Compiled By: Susan Hazelwood COMAL stands for “challenge of Missouri annual list.” Subscribers to Missouri Wild Bird Forum share the total number of bird species they have ticked so far this year. It may seem like an oxymoron to call it a “non-competitive competition,” but that is just what it is. It stimulates our competitive juices and motivates us to get out and see birds in Missouri. But it is done in a relaxed enough way so that none one feels one-upped. To learn more about Missouri Wild Bird Forum and/or to subscribe to it, return to the ASM web site homepage and click “Mobirds listserve” on the left. The updated table for the Challenge Of Missouri Annual List (COMAL) results as of September 30 are below. My apologies for its lateness and if your new numbers aren't included. I've had computer difficulties and believe I may have lost some of your emails in the process. If you send me your missing/lost data I will further update this table and repost new end of September results in about a week. September was a month of numbers again rising after the small gains for most birders during July and August. As several of you noted, it is now getting harder to find those new birds. On September 23 Josh Uffman, who had just been to Smithville Reservoir with Joe Eads, wrote: "Sabines Gull was a bonus bird, so that definitely helps out. It is not going to be easy though [to reach his goal of 300 in 2003]. I am going to attempt to find the Nelson's Sharp Tailed again on Saturday.....This is one of my can not miss birds." By September 30 Josh was writing "Tim Barksdale HIT 300 in October of his big year in 1991. Sabines Gull was 300 for him!" Joe Eades wrote: "On 9/30 I had 281 on my Missouri 2003 year list. Just FYI...I am doing a St. Louis Area Big Year as well. I am at 275 on that list. I also want 300 COMAL this year. I hate to admit it and I'm not going to stop going 100%, but I think I am going to fall short by a sickeningly slight margin. This year has made me a much better birder. It is so cool to be out in the field so much that you see everything as it begins to show up and increase in numbers. Except for my knee grinding away, I am having the time of my life!!!" Patrick Harrison has been extremely busy with his teaching activities, his editing of The Bluebird, and his webmastering of the MOBirds.org website. But, he is still engaged in reaching his 300 COMAL target, too. Yes, there has been a great deal of collaboration among the top COMAL leaders. They are regularly in touch with each other. Each has manipulated data from years past to create strategies to enable them to find Missouri's difficult to locate wild bird species. Each is talking with each other, sharing sighting locations, habitat details, and transportation. Tim Barksdale, our long term COMAL superhero leader, has been coaching and answering questions from wherever he is in the world at the moment. To me, this is the benefit of COMAL ... for all of us ... that we're sharing information and helping others find birds. Jean Leonatti and Mike Warnock, past COMAL leaders, have both been heard to comment that now is when COMAL pressures begin to escalate, when the miles begin to add up on the car odometer, and when every free moment needs to be spent afield. Like Joe wrote, they, too, had fun but are finding birding has more relaxation when you're not trying for 300 COMAL birds. Let's all help Josh, Joe and Patrick reach COMAL bird #300 in 2003. COMAL 2003
Susan Hazelwood, Columbia, MO, hazelwoods@mchsi.com |
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