Hard as it is to believe it’s early November, and thoughts - should you be of a certain inclination - are already turning from one year to the next, or more specifically from this year’s almost non-existent attempt at a year list to next year’s more crafted endeavour at a “Year List worthy of the name”. Oh, yes, it’s almost 2008, and it’s time to start planning what I’m calling the “Old Friends, New Friends 2008 World Tour” (which doesn’t sound as if it has anything to do with birds, but you’ll see what I’m getting at if you keep reading…)

Yes, I’m out to do a Big Year, using my undoubtedly privileged position as an airline Cabin Crew member to get around the world for as little money as possible and see as many birds as I can. And I need some help…

Before I get to my pitch though let me explain a few things quickly. Despite what some readers of 10,000 Birds might think I’m not actually a fanatical fan of year-listing. I don’t have a bad word to say about anyone who attempts one, and I have nothing against listing in principle, it’s just that way back in 1991 I went all-out for a year-list I would remember for ever and became so exhausted by late-summer that I ended the year hardly able to remember my own name let alone the birds I’d seen and vowing NEVER to keep a Year List EVER again. Turns out of course, that you should never say never, and in 2006 I put my toe in the listing water again. I made a promise that I wouldn’t get out of my depth doing it, and I stuck a little tentatively to the metaphoric shallows. Without much of an effort - and with six weeks off towards the end of the year to go to China with Jo and adopt our gorgeous little girl when I saw virtually nothing new - I still managed to get close to a 1000 species and (somewhat surprisingly) really enjoyed myself.

Most of the year I birded on my own and relied on public transport and the occasional taxi to get around. I had stirling help from a few old friends (most notably Jack Cole who lives in California, and Mike of this very blog), and had the odd exceptional trip in the company of a professional birder (perhaps a day cleaning up LBJs with Etienne Marais in South Africa would be the stand-out) but mostly I just saw what I saw and didn’t fret too much about what I didn’t. “Casually earnest” was the phrase I thought best described my efforts. 2006’s unfocussed peregrinations did make me wonder though how I would have done with a little more organisation and a little more logistical support…

And then it hit me. Now that I’m firmly ensconced here at 10,000 Birds I realised that there is a whole huge resource that I’ve never tried to explore before: this blog’s fantastically knowledgeable and (I’m sure) invariably enthusiastic readers! Would - I asked myself - the readers of this blog like to be a part of my attempt to see more than a 1000 bird species in 2008? The answer - surely - has to be “yes”. After all who could turn down the chance to take an invariably jet-lagged middle-aged Englishman (who, if I’m honest, is starting to get a little tatty round the edges) round their local patch in return for a few rambling stories about working for an airline and the occasional offer to buy them a cup of coffee? Put like that, no-one could refuse I’ll bet…

I may not be selling myself too well, but I’d hate to disappoint anyone who volunteers to drive me around for a day. I know what images are conjured up by us Olde Worlde English types, and I have to warn you I’m not anything like floppy-fringed thespian Hugh Grant (more like Hugh Laurie in “House” truth be told). But I am well-mannered, I never curse in front of children, and I will always cover any expenses we incur on our travels. I won’t get stressed if we miss a few birds (you can check that with Mike if you think I’m bending the truth slightly), but I’m always very grateful if we see more than we expected. There is a short list of birds which for personal reasons I really want to see this year, but other than those I just want to go to some interesting places, have a good laugh and create a few lasting memories. If things go the way I’d like them to - and I’m going to make sure they do even if I have to walk around the world - as well as recounting the year on this blog I plan to put the whole story down in a book (which, of course, you’d be in and will be undoubtedly knock J.K. and her wizards off top spot on the best-selling lists…).

Does that make it a little more interesting? I thought so. In that case if you happen to live anywhere near the following cities and - usually with a month’s notice - would like to help out on the “Old Friends, New Friends 2008 World Tour” please email me at charlie - AT - 10000birds.com or leave a comment below:

• Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver
• Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix
• Mexico City
• Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata
• Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai
• Sydney
• Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cape Town

As I sort of suggested earlier I do have a very good personal reason why I want this year to be a success which I’ll explain at a later date, but I’m not out to break any records or to go without sleep for more than 48 hours (at least not too often) so please don’t be put off by thinking that maybe you’re not experienced or “hardcore” enough to take an overseas birder out for a day. I’m as interested in making a few new friends along the way as I am racking up year birds. If you’re in the “Hmm, might be something I could do I suppose” camp, sending me an email won’t commit you to anything, and I guarantee that if we do eventually meet up I won’t try to sell you anything or turn you into a lefty vegetarian.

We’ll be fine, you and me, I’m sure…