Chasing rare birds is a very popular aspect of birding. Some people will drop everything to drive or fly out to see a real rarity to add to their lists. No problem-to each his own. I went to see a few birds within the State of Connecticut that were on the CT. Rare bird report. Two of the birds I was able to see were female Buntings. One was a PAINTED BUNTING, and the other a LAZULI BUNTING. I understand the thrill of tracking down and getting to see a rare bird.Now here is something that I was thinking about. The Buntings I saw were both a bit drab in appearance and behavior. Both were feeding on the ground, and went about their business without exhibiting any unusual behavior. The field marks on both birds were very subtle, and their colors were somewhat plain. Despite these facts, I was still thrilled to be able to find them.
What if a Blue Jay was a rare bird that had never been seen in Connecticut? I'm using a Blue Jay as an example, but it could be a number of other common birds. Forget about the Blue Jay's negative reputation for a moment. Suppose you went to find a Blue Jay that was listed on the rare bird report. Would you be disappointed if you were seeing it for the first time? Or-Would you be excited to hear the odd vocalizations. Would you find the markings of the Blue Jay to be dull?-their behavior boring?
Think about some of the other common birds that we take for granted. Which of those birds would you be excited to see for the first time, if it was a rare bird?-(sadly this may become a reality some day). Why are some birders so driven to find new and rare birds? How do you think this entertaining obsession relates to the natural tendencies of man?
