Hello Ohio Birders, In response to DB's question, my answer is "it depends," depending on why you are counting. The ABA rules for counting birds toward ones total for ABA Area or state life and year lists are very specific: the bird must be alive and unrestrained. But data are data, and the late long-tailed duck as present in the area. In my case I maintain "lists" by a few ABA categories (ABA area life, states in which I've lived, and Ohio year) and I also keep "notes" on what I've observed, including birds and other things (mostly insects). So dead birds and inconclusive identifications are in my notes. (I extracted a dead common ground-dove from a car radiator grille in Massachusetts once, and years ago I thought I heard a certain extinct woodpecker in Louisiana. Both are in my notes but not on my lists.) Bird on! Dave Horn Columbus and Worcester (MA) -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Douglas Bohanan Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 8:26 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Counting a dead duck I also visited Eastlake and Avon. Big question is can I count a dead duck? The long-tailed was alive earlier in the day and data is data. I was unable, along with two others to find any more living ones. Thoughts, anyone? -DB Sent from my iPhone Sent from my iPhone ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]