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Happy New Year to all my readers. A whole new year of exciting birding possibilities ahead of us. Now where should I go to see the best and most birds?

I sometimes feel a little guilty travelling long distances in order to visit special birding spots. Not that I do it all that often, but I certainly have been known to travel by car in order to pursue my passion. I must admit that in recent times of high fuel prices that I have been somewhat more concerned about the cost to my wallet rather than any great concern about the environment. I can change my ways. A little. If I try. Carbon neutral birding – that’s the way to go.

A group of American birders have joined a special cause called The Big Green Big Year or BIGBY. Some birders have given themselves over to the pursuit of a “Big Year” where they try to see as many birds as possible in a single year. Some of these have even written books about their experiences. Most – if not all – have involved plenty of travel – in cars, trains, buses, planes and boats. This Big Year is different.

For your sightings to qualify as counting towards BIGBY, all birding must be accomplished on foot – within walking distance of home or your workplace. There is also a category where a bicycle can be used, and another where public transport is used. (It’s going to travel the route whether or not you are on board.)

This is a low-key, friendly bit of birding rivalry that is not especially original but which seems appropriate in these days of carbon emissions and climate change. If you have ever felt even a tiny bit guilty about driving or flying to see a good bird (or several) why not join us in a year of carbon-neutral birding?

The Big Green Big Year has the acronym BGBY and is therefore pronounced Bigby* … and it is simply a Big Year in which you only count those species seen within walking or cycling distance of your home or principle place of work. As simple as that, no dashing off to the far corners of the planet burning fossil fuels as you go.

Richard Gregson, Baie d’Urfé, Québec (Bigby coordinator)

So there you go. I can be a simple as just counting the birds in your garden, or from the office window.

I am going to be registering here as the first from Australia to do so. Why not join me? It can be fun and the exercise and fresh air will do us all good, an added bonus.

Further reading:

• The Big Twitch – an hilarious account of how Sean Dooley broke an Australian birding record.

One of the first birds I recorded this year was a Crested Pigeon coming to drink from the bird bath in our garden (see photo below).

Crested Pigeon

Most people have heard of James Bond the slick, handsome, debonair lady-killing spy featured in a series of novels and successful films. Good escapist stuff for those who like action packed movies.

What most people do not realise is that the REAL James Bond was an ornithologist. Ian Fleming, the author of the spy novels was a birder and had a copy of a bird field guide on his bookshelves. Searching for a suitable name for his new creation, he borrowed the character’s name from the author of the field guide, James Bond.

There is a certain poetic irony in all of this. An avid bird watcher (feathered variety) is writing a spy novel whose main character is a bird watcher (non-feathered variety) so he borrows the name of a professional bird watcher (feathered variety) for said character. That’s neat.

Further reading:

• Bond. James Bond. Ornithologist. This article actually shows a picture of a copy of the famous field guide written by James Bond (ornithologist). It also has more information about the real James Bond.

Last year read a book called “The Big Twitch“ written by Australian birder, writer and sometime comedian Sean Dooley. This is an excellent read if you are even mildly interested in birds, and especially if you enjoy books relating adventure, quests, the search for unusual things and not without a little humour thrown into the whole mix.

I didn’t realise it at the time but Sean has a web site dedicated to the book. He has even started a blog which is accessed through the site (though he hasn’t updated it in quite a while).

Further reading

• Twitching in Australia – an activity that is alive and well.
• What is a twitcher – a very popular article on this blog.
• Armchair Bird Twitching – a lazy way to watch birds.