Do any of you guys keep life lists? Thats where you keep track of the various types of wildlife you see on your property. I don't have an official list but I do keep track. -------------------------------- Mammals

Deer, Racoon, Flying Squirrel, Weasel, Chipmunks, Grey and Red squirrel, Otters, various mice, ground hog, skunk, thirteen lined ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits, red fox, coyotes(heard but not seen), black bear, bats ----------------------------

Snakes

Pine snake, garter snake, grass snake, fire snake

------------------------------- Turtles

Western painted turtle, Snapping turtle

------------------------------- Frogs

Bull frogs, Leopard frogs, tree frogs, spring peepers, american toad --------------------------------

Blue spotted salamander -------------------------------

Birds

Robin, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, sparrows (various), Crows, Turkeys, Wood ducks, Mallard ducks, Cedar waxwings, goldfinches, black birds, plover, starling, purple grackle, cardinals, orioles, nuthatch, flicker (yellowhammer), pileated woodpecker, downy and hairy woodpecker, chickadee, crested flycatcher, phoebe, kingbird, kingfisher, red tailed hawk, blue heron, green heron or night heron, bluebird, indigo bunting, bluejay, catbird, brown thrush, brown thrasher

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 01, 2002

Answers

Response to does anyone keep life lists?

What a fun thing to do! I'll start in the spring when I move to my land permantly. When my mother visits she won't use the outhouse at night as she thinks Sasquatch will get her. Thanks for the idea John!

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 01, 2002.

Response to does anyone keep life lists?

That is a fantastic idea John......and the kids need a new project!

Thanks!

-- Jason in S.Tenn. (AJAMA5@netscape.net), January 02, 2002.

why ??

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 02, 2002.

Stan, you're so boring! Bren grew up as a birdwatcher and introduced me to it when we met. We keep bird "yard" lists as well as our "life" lists. Our own rules for the yard list is that you have to be standing in the yard when you see the bird. This way we can count such things as the ospreys that fly over but don't drop in. Bren is the keeper of the list so I'm not sure of the exact count right now, but I know it is over 60 species.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 02, 2002.

If you are seeing bluebirds get a nesting box out for them. Floor space should be about 4x4 to 5x5. 1 1/8 inch hole and about 6 inches from bottom of hole to the floor.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), January 02, 2002.

boring?? sounds boring making lists all the time. I enjoy the beauty of the animal,, sunset,, moment. But i dont make lists of everything I saw,, seems you would be making more lists than actually enjoying yourself

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 02, 2002.

Some folks get enjoyment out of making the lists. Different strokes for different folks I guess!

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 02, 2002.

VERY COOL IDEA, John . . . I have roamed the brush for over 30 years, but as of yet have not made any kind of written list. It would be extremely long.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 02, 2002.

Creating a yard/life list is not the same thing as writing out your "To Do" list or your shopping list. It is more like keeping a journal or diary. It is a way to preserve your memories - kind of like making a scrapbook or photo albumn. Making a nature journal used to be part of a lady's education. I think they were popular during the Victorian age and were filled with one's meditations on nature, sketches and water colors, and basic identification of wildlife. Most were a work of art in and of themselves. The importance of keeping a nature journal is being recognized again and a lot of homeschoolers use them to incorporate a lot "subjects" into one activity.

Anyone with more than a fleeting interest in wildlife will get a lot of enjoyment out of keeping a list/journal. And how you keep your list is up to you. You can make a literal list in a spiral notebook. You could make a nature journal with sketches, pressed flowers, found feathers, etc. I have a "Birder's Life List & Diary" by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. It has different sections for you to classify your memories in different ways (such as just a check-off list or a more detailed section with place and date seen plus room for any other pertinent info.) I believe there is also software available for those who like to keep their records on a computer.

What most likely happens, when keeping a list/journal, is a person is usually led to learn more about the subject. For instance, they may notice that they have never seen a bluebird in their yard and set out to research why and ways they can attract that animal to their area. In the process they may learn about animal behaviors and habitats, native gardening, and carpentry. The possibilities are endless.

These lists also have important scientific applications. The Audubon Society and Cornell Labs assemble the lists from their annual bird counts (Audubon's Christmas Bird Count, Cornell's Project FeederWatch and their joint The Great Backyard Bird Count) to track bird populations. They then use this data for various research programs.

For those of you who would like more information on pursuing this enriching , entertaining and educational activity please see the following links.

Christmas Bird Count

Project FeederWatch

The Great Backyard Bird Count

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 02, 2002.

Sorry, here's the correct link for The Great Backyard Bird Count.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 02, 2002.

Great question, and answers. When I see my separate little lists from the walks we've been on since 1980 I get joy remembering whee I was, and who was with us. Organized only by season & location. I do : wildflowers , trees ,mushrooms, and birds. It did help with homeschooling. Our goats always go whenwe start out from home without a car. I like to see which herbs they choose.

-- Elizabeth Quintana (rockshelter@webtv.com), January 02, 2002.

blondes. brunettes. redheads..........

oh wait, you mean wildlife?

oops sorry :)

have a great day and smile

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), January 06, 2002.

And I never thought there were others so caught up in nature that they kept tract of all the birds,critters and/or plants they see or have around their place. If I don't write down where, when and what I see/find it don't seem to stick in the old memory bank and some of the things I see I wouldn't want to forget. Besides, it helps me forcast the seasons (like an early winter ect.)and make's for a good conversational too. Especially when you have items like an albino robin, Snow Goose, Moose, Timber Wolves etc. Good luck on your lists.

-- Bob S. (tundra@rangenet.com), January 08, 2002.