10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2013

European Starlings count as much as any other bird on a big year. Now seems like a good time to look in on the birding big years happening in 2013 to see how folks are doing as they tear around their county or region or state or province or country trying to see as many birds as possible before 1 January 2014.

2013 191

2013 New Jersey North Carolina Canada 191

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2013

On a Big Year, every species counts equally, even the lowly House Sparrow. Ali Iyoob is looking to break the North Carolina Big Year record of 351 this year. As of my writing this he is off to a roaring start with 169 species recorded already. That would be more species than are on his life list!

2013 204

2013 New Jersey Los Angeles North Carolina 204

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2016

But, by December 2013, my eyes, and the eyes of birders across the country, were fixed on Neil and where he was headed next, and if—that huge if—he would see “The Bird.” L ost Among the Birds: Accidentally Finding Myself in One Very Big Year is Neil Hayward’s story of his Big Year, and it is well worth the read. Please—don’t do that!

2013 107

2013 Arizona Birds San Diego 107