[CT Birds] What is a "Best Bird"? LONG

[David Provencher]

Reading the responses some of you have sent me for the Best Bird for January
vote has caused me to ruminate on what "Best Bird" means to different
people. I once told my ex-wife (before the "ex" bit) that a different world
exists for every person. That is to say that we all have somewhat different
perceptions of the world, of events, of right and wrong (unfortunately),
etc. So what did I mean by asking people to vote for a "Best Bird" for
January? What did I mean by the term "Best Bird"? I would answer that with a
question. How would you define "Best Bird"? Do you define it based on level
of rarity? Does the rarest equate to best for you? Or is it the species you
wanted to see most? Or the bird you had the best experience in seeing? I
supplied a short list of birds that were uncommon/rare for CT or at least
rare for January in CT. This was just to limit the scope of the enterprise,
though admittedly it adds my bias to the whole thing. Then I left it up to
you to decide which was best. If you want to use the absolute rarest as the
best, that's fine with me. If you want to use the one you wanted/needed
most, also fine with me. That is what voting is about after-all, choosing.
Remember the term "Best" is subjective. It can only be defined by each of us
within our own personal lexicon. For me, the best birds I have seen either
here or abroad have always been the ones that came during the best
experiential moment. They have seldom been the rarest species, though some
have been. They have almost always been birds I found myself while I was
alone. Birding is about experiencing new birds for me. I used to be a
hardcore lister. Though I am not anymore I remain a hardcore "experiencer."
Every new bird species is a new exciting experience, and therefore I still
tend to chase stuff I have never experienced before.

 

If you haven't voted yet you still can. The result will be forthcoming
tomorrow evening. And while there will be a tally and "winner," as far as
I'm concerned every vote is the right choice. I have truly appreciated
reading the reasons for you choices, which some of you have shared with me.
Un million de gracias.

 

Good birding and good experiences!

 

Dave