One of my favorite aspects of I and the Bird is the breadth of its geographical scope. If you’re like me, you’re as fascinated by birds on other continents as you are by the ones at your own feeder. (Actually, if you’re like me, you’re desperately waiting for some international flavor at your feeder!) This is where I and the Bird excels: from one edition to the next, contributors take us birding around the globe. This is the next best thing to being there.
However, a downside to this international array of avian observations has to be the green envy elicited by those birders fortunate enough to be where we’re not. My home state of New York offers some pretty fine birding, but I can’t help but drool over the idea of living where some of my bird blogging colleagues reside, from California to Costa Rica, British Columbia to Borneo, the United Kingdom to Australia. How about you?
Even worse for those of us afflicted with chronic wanderlust are those fortunate vagabonds whose travels take them to all corners of the Earth. Can you imagine immersing yourself in the natural and cultural splendors of country after country, year after year? Disgusting, right? That’s why I reserve a special seething jealously for the intrepid Okie abroad, TR Ryan of From the Faraway, Nearby. Not only has TR been pretty much everywhere, he brings the eye of an artist and soul of a poet to every stop along the way, allowing us rare glimpses into his expansive world. If you’re not a fan, you will be after you explore his outstanding blog. But you must start with his listener-supported edition of I and the Bird #139: NBR – National Birding Radio Most Popular Birding Stories of the Year!
Wherever you go, wherever you are, rest assured someone would love to hear about your experience of birding or wild birds. Blog about your birds at home and abroad for the readers of I and the Bird. We’re traveling to northern Ireland for our last edition of the year, graciously hosted by Craig at Peregrine’s Bird Blog. Please send your links and summaries to me (mike AT 10000birds DOT com) or Craig (pluvius AT mac DOT com) by 12/14 for the December 16 edition.
I’m in a state of constant envy. And I’m not. So many things to see and so little time to actually do it. Tim is sure one of the most extreme travelers I know – what he travels in a year, many don’t do in 10 lifetimes.
But while envious – I’m nevertheless content down here in Florida, where I, despite criss-crossing the state, will never be able to see and discover all the state has to offer. And when I read the comments I receive – I know that I’m well off down here, for many do envy the variety that I do have in my Backyard.