I’ve always appreciated the seasonality of birding. When you’re paying close attention to the goings-on in the world outside your windows, the annual cycle of nature is conspicuous and easy to track. This visible, reliable schedule has been a major boon throughout the pandemic, which has caused weeks and months to blur together and warp all perception of time. The … Read More
2020 Top 10 Birds
Every year offers a different set of experiences. In 2019, I saw so many lifers that I couldn’t imagine narrowing them down to a Top 10. 2020 stands in stark contrast to last year’s international adventures, and though I managed to make the most of this challenging reality I did not crack into the double digits for new birds observed. … Read More
The Season So Far: Fall 2020 Highlights
Each of the four seasons has something special to offer the birding world. I will always cherish the lively color and music of spring when birds return after months of absence. Winter brings the festive joy of Christmas Bird Counts and new year lists, while summer offers breeding bird surveys and plenty of free time for adventures. Even so, I … Read More
October Big Day 2019
Who doesn’t love a Big Day? Any excuse to get out and count birds in the name of science is a worthwhile cause in my book. eBird has been orchestrating Global Big Day events each May since 2015, an international effort to record as many of the world’s species as possible within a 24 hour period. Last fall, the Cornell-based … Read More
4th of July Birding Challenge!
It’s that time of year again…..fireworks, patriotism, awkward outdoor barbecues with people you know from work. But the real highlight of every 4th? The annual NemesisBird 4th of July Birding challenge. It’s really the highlight of America in general – I’d like to think that this prize-less birding contest is now included in some of our country’s most cherished traditions: … Read More
Global Big Day is May 13
Are you taking part in Global Big Day? The Nemesis Birders are scattered around and will be looking for birds along Lake Ontario, coastal Rhode Island and possibly Alaska! Below is the GBD press release. Let us know where you will be in the comments below! A “big day” is a big deal for people who love to watch birds. … Read More
Fourth Annual 4th of July Birding Challenge!
It’s a big year for the annual Nemesisbird 4th of July Birding Challenge: It’s an election year in the US (in case you have been under a rock for 9 months), it’s the Fourth year of the 4th of July birding challenge, Hamilton the musical swept the Tony Awards, and the sequel to Independence Day is in theaters. What more could … Read More
4th of July Birding Challenge!
2015 will be year 3 of the 4th of July Birding Challenge, and I have to say this year is a special one for your lovely author. I just got back from 5 months of studying birds in Borneo, and while my experiences and birding over in Southeast Asia were truly unforgettable, I would be lying if I said I … Read More
Borneo Big Day
Hank Aaron, Edmund Hillary, Billy Mitchell: record holders and champions of their respective fields. While a big day of birding isn’t exactly the same as reaching the summit of Everest or holding the highest score in Q*bert, the task of racking up as many species as possible in 24 hours can be daunting in its own right. Make the birding location … Read More
4th of July Birding Challenge! Part Deux
Four score and seven birds ago, the 4th of July Birding Challenge was born (actually, it was last year, but who’s counting?). Since it was such a big hit last year, the rules will remain the same, except for one new twist. There will be two categories of champion: One winner for the traditional “Most 4th of July Species”, and … Read More