December 31, 2023
The year in birds, and other animals
For those that were following along this time last year, you might recall that I made a new-year’s resolution to see how many distinct species I could identify in the year ahead. As a reminder, here’s what prompted me to this and what my hopes were at the time:
I’m still slowly working through Birding Without Borders, a book I’m gradually becoming less taken with as the author races around the world racking up his world record bird count. He’s in the fourth quarter now, setting off for Asia before finishing up in Australia and New Zealand. It must be in the back of the mind though because while I’m plotting out a ride for the day it suddenly occurs to me that it’s New Year’s Day and I could have my own Big Year and keep tally on how many distinct bird species I see this year. I make a New Year’s resolution to keep track this year, a resolution that seems like I should be able to hold myself too. I won’t be seeing any six thousand species, that’s for sure - but we’ll be covering a pretty diverse range of regions and environments this year so the opportunity is there for a good number. Even with my undisciplined approach of just taking note when something interesting shows up I might compile a pretty decent list. What’s reasonable to hope for from an undisciplined dabbler like me? 150? 200? 250? We’ll see.
So how did I do? Reasonably well enough, though not quite as well as I hoped. Earlier in the year I thought I might even hit 300, but 224 feels at least respectable. And actually, I’m claiming 225 because there were at least a dozen unmistakeable Eurasian jays seen, invariably when flying across the road and into the trees too rapidly for any hope of a shot.
The effort has definitely made me a better birder though - there are dozens of birds that I can recognize on sight from a distance now. And I ended up with a portrait gallery I’m pretty pleased with:
Sound track: Solidado, by Toshiko Akiyoshi
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and have decided that I’ll keep count next year too. I’ll take a lower-key approach this year though, posting fewer photos and crediting species I see but don’t have a photo for. I’ll probably just include summary notes from time to time of all the new species I’ve seen since the last report. Among other things I’ll be curious to see how the numbers hold up, because the dismal truth is that bird numbers are crashing worldwide in response to habitat destruction, climate change and other environmental threats.
So you don’t think we’re too one-dimensional here though, we’re also interested in other branches of the animal kingdom. Here are some of our favorite encounters from the last twelve months. Our family, and other animals.
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