Hawaii became a state in 1959. Residents became Americans. Except for birds.
No one knew if they should be included on the North American bird list? That was up to the American Birding Association. But they couldn’t decide.
So here’s the silly predicament birders found themselves in. If you saw a golden plover for the first time in say California, it was a life bird. Here’s one I found near San Diego and proudly added it to my list.
But if you saw one in Hawaii (now part of the U.S) you couldn’t.
So the birds I photographed in Kona like this one:
Looked like this to the ABA.
You could always cheat of course. It’s your list after all. But that sucking sound you just heard was birders gasping at the prospect. The whole listing thing is built on a zealous honor system. Cheat at your own risk.
So why not list Hawaiian birds? Good question. It’s an island? Too far from the mainland? If so what about Attu? The birder’s mecca in the Aleutians? It’s an island so far west Sarah Palin really could see Russia from there.
Too many introduced species? Birds unrelated to North American birds? Not in the contiguous North American region? So on and so forth. The ABA felt these and other points needed careful consideration. Maybe so. But for 57 years?
Introduced Saffron Finch
But hallelujah! They’ve gone and done it. They will now include Hawaii. It’ll take a while. A year maybe. But what’s a year more or less with an organization that operates by half centuries?
Yes it will throw off Big Year Records. (I think that was secretly the Big Deal all along). But get in line behind Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and all other record setters.
Besides the new status will help draw attention to Hawaiian birds which badly need help.
So in the end a good decision despite a ridiculously long debate.
You have to wonder about the poor guy making pizza runs for their meetings. "Let’s see: will that be four cheese or pepperoni?"
