BIG YEARS -

A "Big Year" is basically a contest to find the most species of birds in any one calendar year in North America. It gained much popularity and / or notoriety in the early '50s when Roger Tory Peterson traveled 30,000 miles by car all around the country ticking 572 species! He and James Fisher wrote a book and produced a documentary called "Wild America" about the year.

Big years continue to be popular. "Kingbird Highway" by Kenn Kaufmann retells his own adventures on a "budget" big year, and Mark Obmasik's "The Big Year" is about the current record holding Sandy Komito's big year in 1998, when he tallied an amazing 745 birds.

Obviously, such an effort is extremely taxing both on the birder and on the earth. Extensive travel is required to make such an attempt, and this travel is both expensive and polluting. The fossil fuels being burnt are astonishing, and even if you aren't going for an "all out" Big Year this type birding obsession can be taxing on the environment.

Fortunately, Richard Harris of Montreal, Quebec came up with a great idea. He has started the Big GREEN Birding Year. Where we can all pursue our compettitve side and at the same time do the right thing for the environment. A BIGBY is the same as a Big Year in every way, but adds one more rule - You cannot drive, fly, or ride!

Acceptable means of transportation include:

• Walking
• Biking
• Swimming
• Paddling
• Public Transport (standard innercity transport only)

Standings:

Several members of the Boston Birds Listserv have been attempting a BIGBY this year. To see their progress go to the Boston Birds BIGBY Tally Page

Boston Area BIGBY Standings

Complete Lists