Life lists II
The opening paragraphs of last week’s article featured information about an Egyptian Goose that has been seen almost daily for over a month at the Kiwanis Manor riverside. Thanks to Evelyn Rochester of Clinton Mobile Home Park, we have additional information about this goose.
Evelyn had been feeding the goose all winter. She says that the year before, it stayed across the quarry near Mr. Lutz’s house. She believes it might have escaped from the island at the Pioneer Mill when they had peacocks there.
Every morning at 8 AM the goose flew to Mrs. Rochester’s house. He would look into the window to see her. She fed him Rice Crispies, corn, bread crumbs and leaf lettuce. Every evening it would fly over to the other side of the quarry to spend the night. When she was outside, it would follow her around. She was heartbroken when the goose failed to appear on March 2nd.
After reading our article telling about the goose staying at the Kiwanis Manor, she went down behind the Manor with her friend, Ann Harry. There the goose was. Mrs. Rochester spoke to him, “Barney, what are you doing over here?” He made his familiar rasping call and came running over to the fence.
According to Howard Hintz, Evelyn is an avid painter and her home is filled with her works. She was a student of Sam Gholson, an art professor of Heidelberg. We thank you, Mrs. Rochester for responding to our article.
Howard tells us that he has over 500 birds on his life list from the lower 48 states. He thinks he has probably 200 more from the Caribbean and Central American countries. He believes that Phil Harner has a large life list, but that he will not reveal any numbers. Others that would have large lists would be Vic Fazio and Jim Coffman.
Howard thinks that there are some people who have unlimited resources and time may have 3,000 – 5,000 on their life list. They would spend thousands of dollars and go on vast excursions to add another bird.
To add to an official life list, the bird must be seen in the wild, not in a zoo or other artificial habitat. The English (house) sparrow could be counted on a life list since it has produced many generations since they were first brought to this country. The Egyptian Goose, Barney, would most likely not be added to an official list.
Howard Hintz is a retired professor of Heidelberg’s Biology Department. He received his Ph.D. in entomology from the Ohio State University. One of his favorite classes that he taught at Heidelberg was Ornithology. That class was in great demand even though he required his students to keep a notebook and draw in color many of the common birds they saw in the spring semester. He and his class were fortunate to see the Kirtland Warbler on the Heidelberg campus about 20 years ago.
Mary and I make no attempt to keep a life list. We only note the birds that we have seen in or from our backyard. At this point we have noted 87 species. Last Monday in the back yard, we saw the Hermit Thrush, and the Ruby Crowned Kinglet. The ruby crown of the kinglet is usually concealed but becomes erect when excited. I would not have recognized it if it had not been disturbed by my presence.
The annual Arbor Day Celebration will be held Saturday, April 28th, at Hedges-Boyer Park. Trees will be planted in honor of Dr. Frank R. Kramer by Percy Lilly, and in honor of John Abraham Hetzel, by Lowell Hetzel, City Arborist.
The event sponsored by the Tiffin Shade Tree and Beautification Commission will begin at 10AM. A plant identification and wild flower walk will follow, led by Lilly. Pamphlets on tree planting and pruning will be available. The site of the planting is at the lower level of the park, east of the YMCA.
– Percy