eBird- whew, that's a lot of work!

12-30-12 Sacramento Wildlife Refuge. This was my second birding trip. Matt and I went on a wild duck chase, looking for a Falcated Duck that had strayed from its native home in China. There were thousands of snow geese filling the sky. 

I have been working hard for the past two months to try to make my Life List of birds official and figure out where I first saw each bird. (To those non-birders reading, yes it is a slightly crazy project.)
My method that I was using for the past 5 years wasn't as accurate as I arrogantly believed.
And I birded for a whole year without writing a single thing down. Jeez.

12-22-12 Christmas Bird Count in Fort Bragg, CA.
This was my first birding trip, and I was unaware it
was an event where you bird from sunrise to sunset.
But I did it, and became hooked! 

So I got to play detective, and hunt others down who birded with me and were more diligent than I. Through the wonderful help of many people who patiently looked up their eBird lists and shared them with me, I now have records of 90 percent of my birding trips!! I still have most of 2013 and all of 2014 to upload to eBird, but I am thrilled to have all of that early missing information compiled. Opening each new list was like a present that launched me into a pool of memories. In addition, I am going through and editing every photo I took, labeling them and uploading them to eBird for science. (If you would like to check out my photos and lists, click here.)
I love sharing the data I collect, but it is not entirely selfless.
The photos bring back the memories and excitement of seeing these birds for the first time, or some fascinating behavior. It reminds me of traipsing all around the country side with some amazing people. We shared jokes, scopes, the beauty of nature, and a great passion for wildlife.
Being a birder is belonging to a wonderful club of people of so many different walks of life. If I see anyone with binoculars wandering around somewhere, I make sure to go talk to them. I rarely do that otherwise. But birders don't just love the birds, we love sharing with each other, seeing new places and meeting new comrades with whom we can share our extreme nerdiness with.

I highly recommend it. Membership is always open and it is a great medicine to remedy loneliness or feeling depressed. The sunlight and fresh air is great for your health, too. Come to think of it, doctors should really be prescribing birding. ;)

11-09-13 The Audubon Raptor Field Trip fell on my birthday. About 20 of us explored the entire Mendocino Coast from sun up to sun down. Growing up I explored the outdoors with my dad, sister, and rarely more than one or two others. To explore in groups like this makes me excited. It's like an outdoor party where you are not forced to make small talk.