EEN ANDERE SCOPE OP TERMINOLOGIE
In een Engels blad vond ik het ABC voor vogelaars over de verschillende
termen en definities, waarmee je in vogelboeken en -bladen wordt over
spoeld. Hier volgen enkele (Engelse) omschrijvingen:
A
Atlantic depression: A feeling of seasickness caused by staring through
binoculars during a pelagic trip. Usually combined with dipping.
B
Birdline: An information service reporting major rarities at least 250
miles away. Unless you happen to be dipping on a twitch, in which case the
latest rarity will be in your local park.
Birder: Usually a sad, rather lonely figure, best identified by its
abundance of green clothing and possession of a scope. The latter can
virtually confirm any sighting as the only other person likely to carry a
scope is an astronomer, which is a real rarity and is also completely
nocturnal.
D
Dip (Dipping)The
art of being in the
right place at the
wrong timeor the
wrong place at the
right time.
H
Hide (1): A rain shelter from which sheep, cows or rabbits can usually be
observed.
Hide (2): Something most twitchers usually fail to do when a major rarity
is around.
I
Immature: Behavioural description of some twitchers,
L
List: Inability of a birder to stand up straight after visiting the local
pub.
Life list: A more serious drink problem brought on by years of dipping.
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Lifer: A bird you have not seen before; what all your efforts are for - is
it really all worth it? Why not take up stamp collecting, where at least
money can buy happiness.
P
Pelagic: Pertaining to the maritime environment. Excellent for birds, not
birdwatchers. You are usually so seasick you couldn't care less what you
see
Primary projection: Your first school report which stated you would never
be outstanding in any field. How wrong they were - you now stand out in all
sorts of fields.
R
Rarity: A bird that everyone else has seen except you.
Resident: Local non-birder whose flowerbed you find yourself in during a
twitch. Often irate and shouting so much that any rarity disappears.
Ringing: Feeling inside the head the morning after celebrating a lifer.
Ringing recovery: Two aspirins and a glass of Famous Grouse.
Ringing scheme: Planning the above celebration.
S
Seawatching: As the name implies, a birder gives up a day's birdwatching to
stare aimlessly at the sea instead. Sometimes fishing bouy and tanker
spotting is entered into.
Scrape: Injury picked up while clambering through dense woodland looking
for birds.
T
Tick (1): Nervous spasmodic muscle movement, often brought on by years of
dipping.
Tick (2)Annoying sheep parasite that mainly favours birdwatching hot
spots.
Twitch: Collective noun for a group of birdwatchers. Recognisable from any
other group of people by the fact that they gather in large numbers all
facing the same way. Loud characteristic call: whereisitwhereisiC.
Twitcher: A birder with strong migratory and flocking instincts. Often
abbreviated to twit.
Tripod: Large cumbersome weapon used to fight for space during a twitch, or
to make room in a hide.
Erik Sanders, J.v.Reigersbergstraat 267, 4336 XH Middelburg.
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