Question one:
A while back we were at the Sonoran Desert Museum (more of a zoo than a museum) and while we were walking through their aviary, we spotted a Pyrrhuloxia on the outside of the aviary chatting away with a Pyrrhuloxia on the inside of it. Now, Pyrrhuloxias are rather common for the area, so is it ok to count the one we saw on the outside, even though it very well could have been an escapee from the aviary?
Question two:
Certainly there are many birds in my past that I have seen and recognized, well before I got into "birding" or started keeping lists. For example, I have seen many California Gulls from my youth, even though I don't have one on my list since I haven't seen one since I've started this hobby (and am now living in Arizona where gulls come at a premium). Is it considered bad form to include such a critter on my list, or should I wait until I see one in more of an "official" capacity?
I believe it is entirely proper for you to include in your list, birds that you saw before you actually started writing down their names. For example if a person saw an Atlantic Puffin while living in Maine but was not recording bird sightings at that time, then later after this person had moved to California started keeping bird lists, that person could ethically count that bird on their list. That is my opinion.
That was kind of long winded and somewhat awkard grammatically. Oh well, you people are understanding and forgiving.
Larry
In reference to your first question, I have been to aviaries where wild birds are attracted to the birds in the enclosure. At one in Omaha, Nebraska, I saw Wood Ducks flying around outside the aviary. These were wild ducks which were attracted by the enclosed birds. Yes, go ahead and count the bird which was outside the aviary.
Larry