Peanuts In My Pocket

Last Thanksgiving, my friends and I agreed to start a birding project where we’d track the number of bird species we could find over the following year. It began as a bit of a contest, but I had an unfair advantage. I’m the only one who’s retired, a photographer, and a lifelong bird enthusiast.

Knowing that, I gave myself a tougher challenge: photograph 150 bird species before Thanksgiving 2025. It turned out to be harder than expected, especially with the gear I started with. But upgrading to a Nikon Z8 and a 180–600mm lens made a big difference. My wife joined me as a spotter, and thanks to her, I found birds I might have otherwise missed.

Where We Stand

My brother-in-law Don made a good run. I’m not sure where he’ll finish, but for the first few months of the project, he held the lead. I think life got in the way. He’s got a boatload of daughters and granddaughters to keep up with, plus he still has to work. I’m curious to see where he landed.

As I write this, I’m sitting at 155 photographed species. I expect to add a few more before the contest ends. I’m already thinking ahead. I don’t think the Bird Nerd Project will repeat in its current form, but we might come up with a new version.

Looking Ahead: 250?

Next year looks like the right time for a bigger challenge. I’m considering setting a goal of photographing 250 bird species. I didn’t keep great records this year, since the Bird Nerd Project was limited to California and Nevada, and I did some birding outside that region. My guess is I’ve seen about 35 more species than I tracked. That makes 250 feel like a realistic target.

Right now, my eBird Life List stands at 190 birds, with 181 added this year. A secondary goal for next year will be reaching 200, and maybe 225 if things go well.

Adding new birds isn’t as easy as it sounds. On a recent trip, I counted 40 species but only added two new ones to my life list and the Bird Nerd total. For life list tracking, I use a slightly different process. Photography is still the emphasis, but if I hear a bird and identify it using the Merlin app, I’ll try to find it with binoculars. If I get a good enough look to confirm the ID, I add it to my checklist and life list.

So, What Do You Think?

Is 250 a realistic goal for next year, or should I aim higher? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment below.

You can also find me on eBird via the link to my profile.