My Not So Big Year: The Word is Bird
I had no idea there existed a birdwatcher Olympics. I learned of this by reading Sneed Collard III’s book Warblers and Woodpeckers, which is a journal of sorts how he and his teen son go for a Big Year.
The book is entertaining and illuminating as Sneed and his son bond over birding. This led me to watch the movie The Big Year. It was okay. I like birds but not enough to fly to Alaska to tick them off a list. Also, not a fan of Owen Wilson.
So I am inspired to do my own Big Year. There won’t be any extravagant trips planned which means the birds I count are ones mainly from my backyard. Granted, July is a bit late getting into the game yet looking for birds is different than at birds. I know there is an official list; however, I will work with what I have available.
So far:
- Crow
- European Starling
- Mourning Dove
- Swallow (Tree? Violet-Green?)
- Robin
- Chickadees (Black-capped and Chestnut-backed)
- Hummingbirds (they are too fast to identify)
- Nuthatch
- Sparrows (I get them all confused)
- Finches (ditto)
- Hawk (no idea)
- Bald Eagle
- Golden Eagle
- Junco
- Western Tanager
- Cedar Waxwing
- American Goldfinch
- Bullock’s Oriole
Question:
Are you a birder (much more serious than a birdwatcher) or someone who simply enjoys birds?
I’m somewhere in between, but after watching Jack Black’s dedication in The Big Year–he listens to bird songs on his headphones?–I’m thinking I don’t know much about birds after all.
Pam Webb 
I became interested in birds after a trip to southern Africa. There were so many amazingly beautiful or bizarre species, I started keeping a journal. I still recall the crested barbet that would peck at its own reflection on our truck mirrors. And the fish eagles and kites, one of which stole the tomato off my husband’s plate as he was walking to the picnic table. I’m sure it thought it was grabbing a piece of meat, LOL. And the yellow-knobbed currasow that sounds like a cartoon bomb dropping. They’ve got funky feather crests, too….But here, I usually just watch the birds that visit our backyard, the finches, crows, ravens, an occasional hawk, mourning doves, hummingbirds, robins, and stellar jays. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen the cedar waxwings. Our pyracantha hasn’t been producing as many berries.
How exciting to see such festive birds. I especially enjoy watching Nature when they feature exotic birds from places I’ll never see. Sounds like a story in the making with the tomato robber bird. The Uninvited Picnic Guest?
Ha! I like that title!
I am probably somewhere in your category. My dad was a biologist who frequently did bird counts. As a kid, I went along with him several times, but I was simply the tally guy.
Kind of like you were his bird caddy. 😉 Did the experience stir your interest in birds?
I’ve always appreciated nature, but that’s about as far as it went. My oldest brother, Jim, loved to bird with my dad, and was quite good. He’s currently the vice president of the North American Butterfly Association. He has the same passion for butterflies that my dad did for birds.