Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
I am a person that likes to stay busy, try new things, and keep learning. Throughout 2020 I’ve had more time to slow down, spend more time in nature and bird watch so it got me thinking... Since my Ornithology class (the study of birds) in college I’ve been lucky enough to build on my bird knowledge and identification skills both on the job through various seasonal positions and on my own time. I know I have learned a lot and am more attuned to seeing and hearing birds in the wild, but I also know there is much, much more to learn! So, I decided that 2021 would be my year to try my hand at a Big Year! What exactly is a “Big Year” you might ask. Only the biggest yearlong birding challenge there is! A Big Year is an informal, honors system competition among birders to see who can identify the most species, by sight or sound, in a calendar year within a certain geographic area. Starting in 1969, the American Birding Association (ABA) began standardizing and regulating the North American Big Years. They have a set of rules to make sure everyone is following the same stipulations. The count for the year starts January 1 at 12:00 a.m. and ends December 31 at 11:59 p.m. based on the local time of the birder. For the North American Big Year, the geographic area includes all 50 United States, Canada, the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, and adjacent water to a distance of 200 miles from land or half the distance to a neighboring country, whichever is less. Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Greenland are not included in the boundaries. North America is not the only region where a Big Year can take place, but that is the one I will be participating in. There is a wide range of birders who participate in The Big Year. Some birders take it to the extremes, spending thousands of dollars and traveling thousands of miles in a year to find the most birds possible. While on the other end of the spectrum, some take a more casual approach spending minimal amounts of money and just seeing what they happen to come across. I am definitely on the less extreme end of the spectrum. I know I will get no where close to the current record of 840 species in one year, but I’m more so doing it as a fun way to set a birding goal for 2021 and see how many species I can spot in my daily life. Along with the obvious goal of seeing as many species as possible, I have also set a few other goals for my Big Year:
I'll keep you updated throughout the year of my progress, not only my species count, but also how I’m doing on my goals. If you have any book recommendations, bird resources, projects or organizations you like, let me know! Comment below or you can reach me through the “Get in Touch” page. If you’re new to birding or have been birding for years, the BirdNote Podcast is a great place to learn more about birds! They have a daily show that is 2 minutes long – a quick way to get your daily dose of birds. You can listen to their Podcast on major podcasting apps or at their website BirdNote.org. I’ve unintentionally given myself a bit of a challenge, I’ll be starting my Big Year in Nebraska. I’m from Minnesota so Nebraska is uncharted bird territory for me. Back home I’m familiar with the species around, where to find them, and what times of year to go to certain areas - so birding in Nebraska could be interesting. I have been preparing for my Big Year by scouting out some possible birding locations, so we’ll see if they pan out! And because of my natural resources career, I’ve worked in a variety of places for seasonal positions, so we will see where I end up for the rest of my Big Year, it’ll be an adventure no matter where.
Come January 1, you can find me in full “bird nerd” mode. For now, I’ll be getting ready by reading The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik and popping some popcorn to watch Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson in the movie version of the book. Buy your own copy of the book and DVD or check your local library to see if they have a copy. If you’re feeling the bird itch after reading or watching, join me in your own Big Year! I’m not expecting to come close to breaking any records, but I think it will be a fun adventure to see how many bird species I spot in my daily life and a great excuse to get outside! Happy Birding!
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