Noah Strycker

In 2015, Noah Strycker, a young American birder, became the first person to see more than half of the 10,000 bird species on planet Earth in one year. Traveling to forty-one countries on seven continents with just a small backpack, a pair of binoculars, and a series of one-way tickets, Noah not only set a new world record, he also captured the hearts and imaginations of people all over the world.

An Obsession, a Quest, and the Biggest Year in the World

Birding Without Borders

rumbledethumps

This spring migration I did my own very small version of listing, trying to get as many birds in Manhattan as I could in April and May. This made me eager to read a couple of books about better birders trying for bigger lists.

Noah Strycker tried for a Global Big Year in 2015, trying to see as many birds as he possibly could all around the world. Most books of this genre describe a breakneck pace of birders trying to spot as many rarities as possible in order to up their numbers. But, Strycker's attitude towards his own pursuit was refreshing:

"The world is the only scale that doesn’t reward rarity hunts. I liked the idea that, by thinking globally and birding locally, I was helping to reinvent the Big Year as a way to appreciate the most common birds in their proper habitats." 

This book is a great addition to the genre.

Judy Hudgins

Maybe in a lifetime I could do this, but not in a year. Great read if you like travel and/or bird watching.

Birding Without Borders An Obsession, a Quest, and the Biggest Year in the World

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