The Big Year
Jenny & Adam
WEDOWEE, Alabama // Movie Plot // Three men are searching for something and find themselves on the same quest called // The Big Year. Its a prestigious competition among “birders” to find the most species of birds in North America in one calendar year completely on the honor system. Starring: Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black.
Though its a comedy and satire of the “birding” community I found myself longing to be a birder. In fact I have started a Bird Life List to see how many I can see in my lifetime. Its not so much that I love birds but that these people have a passion that gives their life purpose. Birding also requires people to go out into the wild, travel, and as a result find adventure. Looking for birds reminds me of the saying "stop and smell the roses". You literally have to stop and listen and look around you.
Everyone is searching for something. I find that this is the same quest Adam and I are on // To go out into the world and see what we can see so we have affectionately been calling our year of travel // The Big Year.
The Big Year winner spotted 755 different species in one year. We are well on our way to our 2016 resolution to see 100 birds by the end of the year.
- Brown Thrasher // Wedowee, Alabama
- Shriker // Wedowee, Alabama
- Swallow // Wedowee, Alabama
- Cardinal // Wedowee, Alabama
- Great Blue Heron // Wedowee, Alabama
- Warbler // Wedowee, Alabama
- Finch // Wedowee, Alabama
- Red Headed Wood Pecker // Wedowee, Alabama
- Blue Jay // Wedowee, Alabama
- Bald Eagle // Wedowee, Alabama
- Ruby Throated Humming Bird // Newnan, Georgia
- Canadian Goose // Solon, Ohio
- Red Bellied Woodpecker // Solon, Ohio
- Black-Capped Chickadee // Solon, Ohio
- Northern Cardinal // Solon, Ohio
- Coopers Hawk // Columbus, Ohio
- Wild Turkey // Bentleyville, Ohio
- Pigeon // Atlanta Airport, Georgia
- Zebra Dove // Kahalui, Hawaii
- Common Myna // Pukalani, Hawaii
- Red-Crested Cardinal // Pukalani, Hawaii
- Java Sparrow // Pukalani, Hawaii
- House Sparrow // Haleakala, Hawaii
- Japanese White-eye // Haleakala, Hawaii
- Nene // Haleakala, Hawaii
- House Finch // Kihei, Hawaii
- Spotted Dove // Pukalani, Hawaii
- Maui Rooster // Kula, Hawaii
- Hen // Kula, Hawaii
- Ring-necked Pheasant // Kula, Hawaii
- Cattle Egret // Pu’unene, Hawaii
- Hawaiian Coot // Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Hawaiian black necked stilt // Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Laysan Albatross // Pololu Valley lookout Big Island Hawaii
- White-Tailed Tropicbird or Koa’e Kea // Volcanoes National Park Big Island Hawaii
- Wedge-Tailed Shearwater // Kameole Beach Park III, Hawaii
- Melodious Laughing Thrush // Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
- Northern Cardinal Female // Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
- White Rumped Shama // Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
- Sandpiper // Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
- Red Footed Booby // Kalalau Trail, Kauai
- Barn Owl // Pukalani, Hawaii
- Common Waxbill // Sandy Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
- Red-Vented Bulbul // Manana Waterfall Trail, Oahu, Hawaii
- Jungle Myna // Railay, Thailand
- White-vented Myna // Railay, Thailand
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow // Krabi, Thailand
- Easter Cattle Egret // Krabi, Thailand
- Pacific Cattle Egret // Railay, Thailand
- Blue Whistling Thrush // Railay, Thailand
- Mangrove Pitta // Railay, Thailand
- Mangrove Blue Flycatcher // Tonsai, Thailand
- Black-capped Kingfisher // Tonsai, Thailand
- Buff-bellied Flowerpecker // Railay, Thailand