Pelee Chickadee's Pelee List

Red Phalarope. One of those species that highlight my "Pelee List". This particular individual was photographed at Wheatley Harbour in November of 2004. Photo by Marianne Balkwill (Reid back in 2004).

I had a couple of birders (who will remain nameless...lol) ask me what my Pelee List is at this spring, to which I replied, "I don't have a Pelee List"

"YOU DON'T HAVE A PELEE LIST!?"

Okay, so I don't keep a Pelee List. I have a Life List, Ontario List, Yard List, and a North American List right now. So why not a Pelee List? Well, I guess it is because a "lister" to me is defined as someone who, as soon as hearing about a bird they don't have on their list, will go out there and try to obtain another "check" to their growing number of bird species spotted in a particular area......Well I don't have Dickcissel on my Pelee List (until this summer that is) and though there have been times I could have ran out there to get another Dickcissel, I was content to just have it on my Life List with the female I had near my house back in the year 2000.*

* Note this was a female Dickcissel on territory giving alarm calls which, according to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, would have been listed as a "probably breeding". Unfortunately, though I did fill out a report of this for the atlas, the square in the publication remains blank.....and me...well somewhat bitter...

"So what is your Pelee List at now Marianne?"

"I don't keep a Pelee List"

"YOU DON'T KEEP A PELEE LIST!?"

Looking through my field guide there have been some pretty badass birds I have seen in the Pelee area. This includes Tricoloured and Little Blue Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Mississippi Kite, Painted Bunting, Lark Sparrow, Ivory Gull, Pileated Woodpecker, and Fork-tailed Flycatcher. There have been some species I have missed of course too including Slaty-backed Gull, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Ross's Gull, Brant, Cinnamon Teal, Western Meadowlark, and Black Swift, but I am more upset that I dipped out on these on my lifelist than a Pelee List. Getting these species near my home would be more rewarding, and less expensive than going where they are resident as well.

I also don't have any hurricane birds for the Pelee Area. Of course we don't get too many hurricanes around here. Maybe this year will be different?

I guess the main reason why I don't keep a Pelee List is because I really don't plan on living here forever and ever. Although, as days turn into weeks, weeks into months and months slowly into years, it seems that I may be destined to stay around here where the summers are hot, the winters damp, and the birding awesome! If this is the case I better start trying harder on this list which stands now at 315.....I guess that isn't too bad is it?