NYSOA Individual Membership Benefit - Birds of North America Discount

Since we're making our lists based on political boundaries and counties, as far as I know, have no jurisdiction very far offshore (nor, after a certain point, do states), I think we're going to have to make up our own rules. My proposed definition is: Off our southern coast, first make sure, by whatever means available to you, that you' re in New York State waters as defined by NYSARC in 1977 (Bull's Birds o/New York State 1998 pg 5-6). Then determine, as best you can, the nearest point of land and which coUnty it's in and add the bird to that county's list. In and around New York City's Upper and Lower bays, use the boundaries delineated in the DeLorme New York State Atlas and Gazetteer.

Since none of this can be exactly precise, unless you spend all your time plotting positions and thereby missing the birds, my best advice is to do the best you can and, of course, count the bird in only one county unless it clearly moves into what you've determined is an additional one. If anyone has other ideas on how to set these proposed parameters, I'd be happy to hear about them and take them into consideration.

DeLorme is the standard for boundaries on all enclosed water bodies also, such as the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, Long Island Sound, Hudson River, etc. (I know, it doesn't do a thorough job on Lakes Ontario and Erie but I think you can figure it out.) An important point to remember is that boundaries in these waters aren't always "in the middle" and you really do need to consult a map. A very good example is the south shore of Oneida Lake where Onondaga and Madison counties include the shoreline but none of the lake's waters. When I stood on that shore and saw Snow Buntings flying over the water, they were in Oswego County until they chose to land near my feet in the parking lot in Onondaga. Had they veered off before crossing the shoreline, well, no tickie in Onondaga. Which brings up that old question, sometimes still raised. The answer is: It's where the bird is, not where the observer is.