After a 20 year or so hiatus from birding, I have resumed pursuing a passion that started when I was eight years old. On January 1, 2014, I started a "Kansas Big Year" to reconnect with birding and to explore my home state. I netted 224 species in Kansas in 2014 - not a record setting year by any means, but what a year! It wasn't just about the birds. It was about discovering technological advancements like eBird that make bird finding more efficient. It was discovering that Facebook was more than about pictures of cats, but a great tool to learn of "real time" sightings of rarities and vagrants. It was about connecting with the local birding community like the Kansas Ornithological Society, Burroughs Audubon Society and passionate local birders. It was about discovery - learning that Kansas has incredibly diverse habitats, which make for great birding. Not just the gems of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area but the sand-sage prairie in Morton County and the scenic views of the Red Hills. It was also about the birds. I had the opportunity to see birds that seemed mysterious and unapproachable in my youth - Snowy Owl, American Pipit, Townsend's Solitaire, Green-Tailed Towhee, Mountain Bluebird and Northern Shrike.
So as I continue my journey back to birding, I thought I would document my adventures with a blog. I will document my thoughts on optics, gear, food, resources and the occasional birding adventure. My posts will be irregular, so feel free to sign up for email announcements in the box on the upper right.
Western Kingbird, Smoky Hills Audubon Sanctuary
Saline County, KS - July 2014
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