Listing Guidelines and Context

Disclaimer

This website is super new and basic (as I've pretty much just created it during a lunch break at work). Hopefully if it gets enough use, it can grow and grow (and ultimately be of a higher quality).

Overview

These lists are for fun and not to be taken too seriously. I am aware that there are inconsistencies between some of the listing criteria between locations/regions. If you are contributing to this site, please do your best to stick within the rules, and if you have a problem with the rules, please get in touch and perhaps we can make some tweaks. 

As you may notice, there is no "NZ Life List" category or for Big Years. This is because Wrybill Tours already does this HERE and has had significant buy-in from many of the most active birders in the country so I encourage you to check that out (Keeping in mind that they use a slightly different taxonomic list). You may also notice that there are no regional listing categories for "Waikato" or "Canterbury" or "Auckland" life lists. This is because eBird already captures this in its "Top 100" feature. But what if you're not on ebird??? Well you're pretty much admitting to boycotting the Atlas project which is a little distressing, but it's quite easy to sign up and plug in a life list or two if you can't be bothered actually using the app regularly.

This is all to say that this website seeks to fill a niche of listing that is not currently provided anywhere else (that I'm aware of). At the time of writing this I have no idea if it will catch on... No worries either way. It's all about encouraging people to get outside and find new ways to enjoy birding. Maybe a few years from now you'll find yourself working on your "leucistic birds seen from the right side of the bus in Upper Hutt" and you'll have this website to thank!

Chosen Taxonomy - Why eBird?

For the purposes of this website, all lists must follow Clements/eBird taxonomy. Why? Because, most NZ birders now already use eBird and since it tabulates a lot of lists for you, it will be very helpful in putting together other lists for this website. It's not the same list used by Birds NZ (or Wrybill) which might be seen as confusing, however I had to draw the line somewhere and feel this way is more convenient and hopefully will encourage more people to sign up for eBird--and even better--more birding (e.g. Getting out 'county-listing'!).

Bird Ticking and Ethics

Many of the lists have their own subset of specific criteria and rules (Note that the "Self-spotted" Life Lists and "Big Day" categories have their own Word Docs attached). Holistically though, here are some basic rules for counting on this site:

1. Use updated ebird taxonomy for full species.

2. Exotic species (as designated on eBird) such as Golden Pheasant do NOT count. If you are unsure about a specific case, please let me know and I can advise.

3. Birds may be seen OR heard as long as identification is certain (Footprints, feathers, and other evidence of existence do NOT count as a tick). Dead birds such as beachwrecked prions do NOT count.

4. Birds must be wild and unrestrained in order to be counted (Predator-proof fences do not count as 'restraints).

5. To keep with current NZ twitcher practice, birds recently (or in the act of) released by rehabbers are countable.

6. Please be honest and accurate

7. Any rare sightings should be accepted by the NZ Rare Birds Committee

8. Please make every reasonable effort not to disturb or harass birds, particularly while roosting and/or nesting. Here is a link to eBird's Birding Ethics article.

Is there a list that you would like to see that is currently not offered on this site?

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for new lists. No doubt, there will be more lists to come.

Errors and Feedback

If you spot any errors, or would like to suggest changes to listing criteria, please get in touch to discuss.