A Big Year

Hello All, As those of you who are interested in such things will probably know, my lunatic boss John Weigel is using the ‘Big Year’ concept as an excuse for a repeat of his 2012 year of non-stop birding. What you mightn’t know is that he’s proving to be even more of a lunatic this time around, and at the 6-month mark has already seen 703 species – nearly 50 ahead of his 2012 pace, when he finished up seeing a record 745 species. Sandy Komito’s longstanding US Big Year record of 745 US species fell last year by one, to a fellow who ‘had to’ commit to spending 192 nights away from home. So far this year John has had five nights at home, with most nights in a tent, solo. Hence I’m, no longer skeptical about his ‘ridiculous’ forecast of 760 species for 2014, but this will depend upon good luck at Ashmore Reef in October and Christmas/Cocos in November. I’m planning on being on the Ashmore trip with John, along a couple of our other birding mates. I know from John’s slide-shows how incredible the sea-birding and island birding will be if we can get this trip off the ground (imagine 35,000 Roseate Terns). However, the trip now depends upon enlisting three more participants to become a viable proposition. So if anyone out there wants to not only have an incredible adventure, but to help John (and I!) get out to those incredible Ashmore Islands, please check out the blurb on George Swan’s website at http://kimberleybirdwatching.com.au/ashmore-reef-october-2014/ Regards, Tim Faulkner Tim Faulkner General Manager Australian Reptile Park and Devil Ark Direct: 02 4340 8613 Mobile: 0415 904 710 ARP Logo PSEDARK LOGO _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org