I bird......

I recently saw a line, by a fellow writer at 10000 Birds.com that caught my eye...I know it is nothing new and a play on previous usage, but I am going to do likewise. "I bird, Therefore I am" While Birding is something that is very important to me, and becoming much more so in the last few years, it, or at least I try to not let it, consume me. And nobody knows better than me, how someone with a personality like mine can easily become obsessed.

Up to this point in my life, I have merely enjoyed birds...watching them, reading and learning about them, and especially photographing them, it just gives me joy! Now, I get to pass that along with my guiding, showing newbies and veterans alike the birds that inhabit the southern half of the Baja.

With all this newly built energy going into my birding, comes "The Numbers"...if you have seen the movie "The Big Year" you will understand completely. How many species of birds have you seen in a day, a week, a month, a year, and of course the biggie...The Life List!

In the last few years, with the increase in computer technology, birding has seen some amazing up ticks in interest, as well as learning and information sharing. There is no doubt in my mind, but the greatest tracking and information site ever is eBird.org. This site allows you to submit every one of your observations, daily, and that information is then used by world class ornithologists around the world. They learn about population densities, growth and decline. They have an amazing tool for tracking migratory patterns and timing....the information found there is mind boggling to any bird nut like myself. It does not matter if you are occasional bird watcher, or someone who travels the world for the express purpose of finding new birds to add the that Life List, I firmly believe that you should register on eBird, and submit your observations. If you need help getting started, feel free to drop me a not at my email  focusonfeathers@hotmail.com and I will make sure you know all the ins and outs.

......and just so you know what started all this soap box tirade, was for the first time in my life, or at least the last few years that I have been watching, I have managed to see over 200 birds species in one year. The best part is I still have nearly half a year to go! I have copied and pasted my personal page from eBird, so you will get a look at the current numbers since I started with eBird.

keep looking in the trees, bushes and to the skies! Birds are all around, enjoy them!

My eBird

Manage your personal lists, observations, locations, and account settings.

Your Life List: 346 Species

Your Stats
	Life	Year	Month
Total Species	346	201	85
Total Checklists	100	68	6
ABA Area Total Ticks	280	67	42

Your Lists
Major Regions Country State/Province County
	Life	Year	Month
World	346	201	85
Western Hemisphere	346	201	85
Eastern Hemisphere	0	0	0
North America	346	201	85
South America	0	0	0
Central America	0	0	0
West Indies	0	0	0
AOU Area	346	201	85
ABA Area	212	67	42
USA Lower 48	178	67	42
Western Palearctic	0	0	0