I wrote a little while ago about the sort of "celebration rituals" that most birders do these days when they get a tick. They mostly involve a bit of prancing about, though this varies both throughout the UK and over the rest of the world. Note ... this post is about the spontaneous " just-after-the-tick" celebration, not to be confused with the "Tree-Climbing" that has been going on for years, usually, but not always, done once you get home... which sort of tree depends on where you live. This first one shows an unknown birder who apparently has just "ticked" his first fly-over Black Stork a few minutes after The Flaming Lips finished their set. It's a good one for beginners to take up, and it's starting to become more widespread around the Devon/Cornwall area ... but it can be done anywhere really. This next one shows one of Germany's top birders doing the most popular "tick celebration " dance in Germany..... it really caught on . Mind you, there aren't that many German birders, and there's not all that many rarities to dance about, so they do tend to go a bit doolally when anything gets found. ... as you will see. If you don't have any particular ritual right now, this is a good " Entry-Level" one to try..... very popular in the Huddersfield area apparently ... especially the 2nd one which starts at 1m:55s .. Ein Zwei Polizei ... it's actually a German nursery rhyme ... a strange one, true enough. But it really is. Urban birders, and especially those in London, have found it difficult to express themselves in dance ... there's just too many people about and they attract unwanted attention. Many have adopted various " silly walks" instead for purely practical reasons ... here's a selection. If you're an urban birder, or simply find dancing difficult, these could be the best option for you ... and on top of all that, it's one of the funniest things you'll ever see ! Win-win !! On the Celtic Fringe of birding, especially Clackmannanshire, many Tick celebrations have been based on the various moves in this compilation video. Due to terrible broadband speeds in these areas, this, purely by chance, was the only video available in the formative years of these celebrations.... take your pick ... or create a new one of your won ... Of course, birding encompasses all age groups, so some of our more elderly adherents, though still wanting to do their celebratory tick dance, might like a more sedate option ..here's one video which has been widely adopted as a model by this much-respected group ... So .... that's the ones I know about , mostly recommended by people I've met in various parts of the UK whilst getting ticks myself. If you know of any good ones I've missed, it would be be good if you could let me know ..as a comment, or as to my email ..... [email protected] Then I can add them to this selection. You know it makes sense. Update ... somebody has sent me one already .... he points out that many birders come from the "less-mobile" community ... and this is for them.... loads of choice here, and it all has a true dignity and beauty about it. It doesn't have to only be for them though. But as I get increasingly ancient, this might be the route for me too ... watch, and admire ... Here's another one that's been sent in ... it's been taken up in a big way in the Low Countries ..you need a flat, smooth surface, and they have a lot of that. It's also a big in Luxembourg .. it's much too small a country for anything that takes up a lot of room. I imagine it would take a fair bit of practice, but well worth it I reckon.....
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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