The Big Year and Birding

I started birding casually several years ago when I wanted something to do while kayaking with my wife and friends. I read Sibley's Birding Basics, bought a decent pair of binoculars, and started going on free birding walks here and there. As with most new hobbies, the flamed burned hot for a while before fading to a spark. I had been meaning to read Mark Obmascik's The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession since it was published in 2004. I finally got around to it on the cruise and I loved it. Incidentally, I picked the paperback at Powell's Books when I was in Portland a few weeks ago--an autographed copy no less. I hate to echo what the book jacket reviews say, but it really is a great story for anyone, whether interested in birds or not. For me, it lit my fire for birding again.

A Big Year in birding is an informal competition where birders attempt to see as many different species as possible within the US limits (set by the American Birding Association) from January 1 to December 31. Few people have the time and resources to attempt a record-breaking attempt, but in 1998 three birders broke the 700-species barrier (note: there are about 675 species native to the US). In fact, 1998 is now considered the biggest Big Year ever because of the large el niño that brought dozens of species within the geographic limits that normally don't come close. It's quite a tale of determination and the human spirit, and entertainingly written.

Even when I wasn't actively birding over the past couple years, I was always mindful to take my binoculars when traveling to places where I might have a chance to see birds. They came in handy on the cruise as I was able to do some birding at Yellow Beach on Pinel Island, St. Martin (French-side). We took an excursion there to snorkel and then I saw several Bananaquits in the trees on the beach. Unless I return to the caribbean, this may have been my first "life bird."

Someone asked me once why I started birding. I simply responded, "because the bow tie just wasn't nerdy enough."