NATURE PHILOSOPHY MUSIC HISTORY FEMINISM
& sometimes puny puns
Jennifer Rycenga's Website
for various and sundry idiosyncrasies, observations, research projects & more
"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on the rock." - Mary Shelly, Frankenstein, ch. XIII
Birds!
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
January 1, 2021
Antonelli Pond, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz county, California, USA
Birds have been my passion in the natural world since they first seduced me in 1985, with my spark bird, the White-tailed Kite (honorable mention, sort of like John-the-Baptist, to the Northern Harrier). This page will feature up-to-date statistics of my birding adventures and various bird-related projects in which I participate.
This is a major project, first conceived in 2008, to transpose the previous written site guide for San Mateo County to a more dynamic and editable format for the web. Working with the webmaster for Sequoia Audubon Society, Bill Groll, we debuted the guide in April 2009. The page includes all sorts of useful information, including historical sightings of rarities for each location, and overview guides for regions. I am proud of this one!
TrueNerd® Bird Statistics for Jennifer Rycenga
as of September 9, 2022
2210 - Life List of Bird Species Seen
THE CONTINENTS
North America 1086
South America 775
Africa 293
Asia 147
Australia 115
Europe 34
Antarctica 00
BIRDER-DEFINED AREAS
AOU Area = 1110
ABA Area = 777
ABA Classic = 735
Southern Africa = 293
Central America = 249
Pacific Islands = 101
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NATION STATES (and year(s) visited)
USA = 768 (Lower 48 = 721) (continuous)
Brazil = 464 (2022)
Mexico = 318 (various, mostly 2015)
South Africa = 293 (2019)
Ecuador = 280 (2010)
Costa Rica = 248 (2008)
Canada = 156 (various)
Argentina = 149 (2022)
Japan = 143 (1998)
Australia = 115 (2007)
Puerto Rico = 108 (2006)
Japan = 37 (1998)
France = 34 (2009)
El Salvador = 5 (airport birds) (2010)
United Arab Emirates = 5 (airport birds) (2019)
Campo Flicker, Iguazu Falls, Argentina, July 2022, Bird #2080
🎣 There are a few ways to reel in the years.
1. Chronological, when speaking of time, is obvious
2. Ascending/descending by achievement, when speaking of birds, is necessary
3. Breakdown by place, when speaking of obsessive list-keeping, is requisite
Bald Eagle, Homer Spit, Alaska, July 2005
"I contemptuously expectorate fish guts upon your rosy-fingered dawn!"
Chronological
Year-by-Year
Year World ABA
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1995 142 142
1996 157 142
1997 216 208
1998 262 242
1999 285 265
2000 388 354
2001 416 416
2002 495 455
2003 468 410
2004 469 469
2005 521 521
2006 546 500
2007 562 456
2008 722 523
2009 476 454
2010 750 483
2011 504 504
2012 514 514
2013 444 444
2014 524 524
2015 677 486
2016 467 467
2017 468 468
2018 443 443
2019 622 331
2020 272 272
2021 277 277
2022 844 317
2023 256 256
World Years - Highest to Lowest Descending
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2022 844
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2010 750
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2008 722
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2015 677
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2019 622
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2007 562
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2006 546
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2014 524
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2005 521
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2012 514
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2011 504
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2002 495
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2009 476
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2004 469
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2003 468
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2017 468
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2016 467
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2013 444
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2018 443
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2001 416
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2000 388
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1999 285
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2021 277
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2020 272
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1998 262
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2023 256
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1997 216
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1996 157
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1995 142​
ABA Area Year Lists - Highest Descending
note - these are uncorrected for changes in the ABA area; I follow the system in place for the year in question. For the record, I am 100% in favor of the inclusion of Hawai'i in the ABA Area
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2014 524
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2008 523
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2005 521
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2012 514
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2011 504
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2006 500
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2015 486
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2010 483
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2004 469
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2017 468
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2016 467
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2007 456
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2002 455
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2009 454
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2013 444
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2018 443
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2001 416
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2003 410
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2000 354
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2019 331
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2022 317
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2021 277
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2020 272
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1999 265
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2023 256
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1998 242
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1997 208
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1996 142
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1995 142