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Ask Julia Booth a Question about Birding

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Instructions from the Expert:

If you are looking for a bird ID PLEASE include as much information as possible. Bear in mind that if you cannot accurate describe what you saw, I probably can't tell you either. I find that often non-birders will tell me what they think they saw, when they really have no idea, I'm unable to give them an ID and then they later tell me it was a _______ which bears no resemblance whatsoever to what they described. Please do not mistake your inability to describe what you saw for a lack of knowledge on my part. I know it might make perfect sense to you. But if you start describing something that I know for a fact doesn't exist, I will reply accordingly. It can often be difficult for people who don't spend a lot of time birding to gauge size. I've had people tell me that something was crow sized, when it was a hawk, or that something was sparrow sized, when it was actually twice as large.

TELL ME ONLY WHAT YOU KNOW FOR SURE and nothing more.


I must know where you live -at least the county and state. If you are Canadian, I need the Province.

Things you can tell me that will help you get the most accurate identification:
1. Where you saw the bird (sky, tree, ground, feeder, shore)
2. The size of the bird (sparrow-sized, crow-sized, hawk-sized)
3. The shape of the bird's beak (cone, needle, all purpose, spatulate)
4. The shape or size of the bird's tail (if it was long, bent upwards, had any distinguishing marks)
5. How does the bird perch? (ground, clings to branch, creeps vertically)
6. Did the bird make any sounds?
7. Was the bird alone and if not, how many were there?
8. What time of day did you see the bird? (dawn, dusk, daytime, night)
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Volunteer

Julia Booth

Expertise

I can answer questions about bird identification (by sight or sound), behavior, distribution, population, conservation, mating, nesting, fledging and feeding. I do have some practical knowledge about foreign species, but identification skills are limited in that arena.

Experience

I have ten years birding experience in Southern California. I am well versed in all the species living in the Western US. Many hours spent birding. I have been frequently told I should lend my knowledge to good use, and have encountered few bird related questions that I cannot answer.

Organizations
Audubon Society

Education/Credentials
My education is in art and photography -but I have a substantial portfolio of nature related work.

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