Catching Up After Saxapahaw
Our last adventure took us through the Saxapahaw nature trails where new lifers surprised us at every turn. We also watched a Carolina Wren family set up their tiny real estate empire in our backyard. Since then, the Merlin App has continued to tempt me with possible lifers through Sound ID. However, I still refuse to count anything unless I can see it and capture a photo. My list continues to grow at a snails pace.
A former colleague recently recommended the documentary Listers. I watched it and discovered the world of competitive birding. Never in my life did I expect to write that sentence. Yet here we are. The film introduced me to the Big Year challenge. The goal is to identify as many bird species as possible from January 1 through December 31. Ezekiel Dobson set the lower 48 record in 2024 with 759 species. The challenge has four rules.
- The bird must be in the lower 48 or within 200 miles offshore.
- The bird must be on the approved ABA checklist.
- The bird must be alive, wild, or unrestricted.
- The bird must be seen, heard, or documented.
Everything runs on the honor system. However, some birders seem ready to debate sightings with courtroom intensity. I plan to keep birding as a hobby, but who knows what January 1, 2027 will bring.
A Baby Robin Steals the Spotlight
My lifer list sits at 26 species. It is not impressive, but it is mine. During a recent trip to visit my grandma, who is recovering from a massive heart attack and pneumonia, my mom spotted a baby robin on the running board of her Chevy High Country truck. The timing was perfect. The photo captured the tiny bird in a pose that suggested it owned the entire driveway. If the pose didn’t the amount of poop covered on the truck and pavement suggested this was his territory.
I had identified an adult robin in North Carolina last month, but this little robin became the star of the trip. Lifers can appear anywhere. Sometimes they show up in forests. Sometimes they show up on a pickup truck that has seen more road trips than I can count.
The Red Winged Blackbird That Refused to Be Ignored
During the drive back to North Carolina, my partner and I kept spotting a striking black bird. It had a bright red patch on its wings with a yellow border. The name red winged blackbird is accurate. However, I wondered why the yellow patch did not make the cut. Ornithologists name birds based on their most prominent feature. The red patch wins. The yellow border is simply a decorative accessory. I think the yellow deserves a small mention, but I will not be starting a bird naming petition.
Carolina Chickadees and Possible Backyard Romance
My video birdfeeders have been busy too. Two Carolina Chickadees have been visiting the suet and seed. They appear to be mates. At least I hope they are mates. I would prefer not to discover that I unknowingly officiated a sibling wedding. Their visits add charm to the backyard and let me know that my next lifer may be closer than I think.
Listers: A Glimpse into Extreme Birdwatching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo&t=290s
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