ABA Blog in Review: November 2012

Thanks for a fantastic month here at the ABA Blog.  For a while there it seemed as though we were running a rare bird alert service, as the month of November was completely off the charts with regard to the diversity of rare birds reported across the continent.  But there were actual fun and informative posts mixed in with all those rarity reports, and here are some of the posts you may have missed this month. 

ABA Board member and Big Year guru Lynn Barber has fun this month with loons and Snowy Owls. 

Laura Erickson begins a series on what it takes for birders to get involved in conservation.  

Ted Eubanks sings the praises of birding his patch, and in a thought-provoking piece, wonders what we birders can do about our cultural homogeniety.  

Birding editor Ted Floyd urged birders to share their Hurricane Sandy stories and encourages birders to appreciate bird phemonena as opposed to individual rarities.  He also moderates a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion on bird taxonomy by Peter Pyle and Michael Retter. 

Bird of the Year coordinator Robert Mortenson announced the winners of the recent multimedia art contest, as well encouraging birders to get those Evening Grosbeak reports into eBird. 

Winging It editor Michael Retter introduces the latest full-color edition of the ABA's newsletter.

Photo and tech department head Bill Schmoker has been having a lot of fun with his brush pile lately, as it attracts visitors both avian and non.  

Rick Wright introduces an interesting way to specially bind out of print books.  

We had an Open Mic from Ruth Bloedorn on how to prevent squirrels from invading your feeding station.  

Among the ridiculous haul of rare birds and first records this month include Western Spindalis and Thick-billed Vireo in Florida, a first Gray Hawk for California, first Citrine Wagtail and Cave Swallow for British Columbia, PInk-footed Geese in Maine, Pennsylvania and Newfoundland, Northern Lapwings in Virginia, New York, Maine, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Nova Scotia, Brambling in Colorado, first Say's Phoebe in New Hampshire, first Rufous-backed Robin in Nevada, first Calliope Hummingbird and Anna's Hummingbird in Delaware, first Ash-throated Flycatcher in Alaska, first Cassin's Kingbird in Minnesota, first Virginia's Warbler in New York, first Hepatic Tanager in Saskatchewan, Northern Jacana in Texas, and first Herald Petrel in Pennsylvania.  Man, it looks like a lot when you lay it out like that...

Anyway, thanks for a great month and if you enjoy what we're doing here and you're not a member, please consider joining the ABA to help contribute to the continuation of this site.  

See you in December!