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Extreme Birder: One Woman's Big Year
One woman . . . one year . . . 723 species of birds. . .
In 2008, Lynn Barber's passion for birding led her to drive, fly, sail, walk, stalk, and sit in search of birds in twenty-five states and three provinces. Traveling more than 175,000 miles, she set a twenty-first century record at the time, second to only one other person in history.
Over 272 days, Barber observed 723 species of birds in North America north of Mexico, recording a remarkable 333 new species in January but, with the dwindling returns typical to Big Year birding, only eight in December, a month that found her crisscrossing the continent from Texas to Newfoundland, from Washington to Ontario. In the months between, she felt every extreme of climate, well-being, and emotion. But, whether finally spotting an elusive Blue Bunting or seeing three species of eiders in a single day, she was also challenged, inspired, and rewarded by nearly every experience.
Barber's journal from her American Birding Association-sanctioned Big Year covers the highlights of her treks to forests, canyons, mountain ranges, deserts, oceans, lakes, and numerous spots in between. Written in the informal style of a diary, it captures the detail, humor, challenges, and fun of a good adventure travelogue and also conveys the remarkable diversity of North American birds and habitat. For actual or would-be “travel birders,” Lynn Barber’s Extreme Birder provides a fascinating, binoculars-eye view of one of the best-loved pastimes of nature lovers everywhere.
"Lynn Barber challenges a traditionally male-dominated pursuit--the birding big year--and is successful beyond her wildest dreams. She is an inspiration for all who love adventure, nature, and birds."--Lynn Hassler, author, Birds of the American Southwest
In 2008, Lynn Barber's passion for birding led her to drive, fly, sail, walk, stalk, and sit in search of birds in twenty-five states and three provinces. Traveling more than 175,000 miles, she set a twenty-first century record at the time, second to only one other person in history.
Over 272 days, Barber observed 723 species of birds in North America north of Mexico, recording a remarkable 333 new species in January but, with the dwindling returns typical to Big Year birding, only eight in December, a month that found her crisscrossing the continent from Texas to Newfoundland, from Washington to Ontario. In the months between, she felt every extreme of climate, well-being, and emotion. But, whether finally spotting an elusive Blue Bunting or seeing three species of eiders in a single day, she was also challenged, inspired, and rewarded by nearly every experience.
Barber's journal from her American Birding Association-sanctioned Big Year covers the highlights of her treks to forests, canyons, mountain ranges, deserts, oceans, lakes, and numerous spots in between. Written in the informal style of a diary, it captures the detail, humor, challenges, and fun of a good adventure travelogue and also conveys the remarkable diversity of North American birds and habitat. For actual or would-be “travel birders,” Lynn Barber’s Extreme Birder provides a fascinating, binoculars-eye view of one of the best-loved pastimes of nature lovers everywhere.
"Lynn Barber challenges a traditionally male-dominated pursuit--the birding big year--and is successful beyond her wildest dreams. She is an inspiration for all who love adventure, nature, and birds."--Lynn Hassler, author, Birds of the American Southwest
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2011
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About the author
Lynn E. Barber
5 books1 followerI was born in Wisconsin, and since then have lived in AK, OR, NC, TX, SD and then back to WI. I am a birder, and an author, bird-painter and bird-photographer. I have published four books and have one in-progress, all related primarily to birds and birding.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 21, 2015
So for all you non-birders out there, a "big year" is someone's effort to see as many birds as possible in one calendar year in a given area. Obviously this involves both a degree of commitment (obsession?) and lucre not shared by most birders. Personally, I enjoy reading these tales but am never tempted to emulate them. Finances aside, jamming a decade's worth of travel into just one year seems a bit exhausting.
Otherwise, like many first-person birding accounts, the writing was rather dry, but the photos were quite nice. I enjoyed reading another woman's birding adventures, as most who share my hobby--at least the more obsessive ones--are male. Mostly, I would recommend this to other birders, though. I'm not sure that anyone else would really "get" it. Bravo to Lynn Barber for her year list, though -- 723 species is a hella big number of birds!
Otherwise, like many first-person birding accounts, the writing was rather dry, but the photos were quite nice. I enjoyed reading another woman's birding adventures, as most who share my hobby--at least the more obsessive ones--are male. Mostly, I would recommend this to other birders, though. I'm not sure that anyone else would really "get" it. Bravo to Lynn Barber for her year list, though -- 723 species is a hella big number of birds!
June 14, 2017
This book is really 3 1/2 stars. Lynn Barber set out to become the first woman to do a Big Year which is seeing the greatest number of birds in North America. The record is about 738 by a man. While I appreciated her attention to detail, it was too much detail for me. She is impressive in that she finished her Big Year and took almost all of the beautiful photographs of birds in the book. Her husband was most supportive as he mortaged their house and she was gone for most of the year. Wow!
February 27, 2017
I just loved this book. What fun it world be to do a big year! :)
January 30, 2019
Nonfiction/Birding. This book may not be for the average reader, but as a novice birder, I was intrigued by the sheer number of birds and the effort the author made to see them. While I am not interested in doing a "Big Year", I do enjoy hearing about those who do one--pursuing a passion is not just for the birds. :) The author was clear and organized in thought. Even the misadventures were nice to know about and I was inspired by her dedication to her goal. I was surprised there was not a chapter following her Big Year about tips or things she learned to help others with their own pursuit. Still, I appreciate Mrs. Barber sharing her story. I listened to this on audible which was pleasant for me.
April 13, 2011
A woman's Big Year indeed. As an avid birder myself, I couldn't put this book down (even though I knew the ending). THe amount of effort and time it took to reach over 700 species is staggering, and the amount of driving to catch those rare birds! But it sounded like Lynn enjoyed the whole experience and shared many great moments with birding friends and guides. Loved it.
May 12, 2014
While some of the birding stories I read are meant for a wider public, this one is pretty bird geeky, and will be of limited interest to someone who isn't interested in the length and depth of birds she looked for.
Personally, I thought it was great. Non-birders would get much more from "The Big Year", "To See Every Bird on Earth", or even "Kingbird Highway".
Personally, I thought it was great. Non-birders would get much more from "The Big Year", "To See Every Bird on Earth", or even "Kingbird Highway".
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews