Although the “Birdfreak Year” began December 1st, the following are some of our top goals for 2010 in terms of birding, conservation, and other natural studies. Happy New Year!!
1. Further promote birding to young naturalists
2. Feature more content on gardening, especially native plants and birdscaping
3. Expand beyond birds into other natural studies: trees, wildflowers, and butterflies (and more)
4. Start pushing a change from term “conservation” to a more detailed and hopefully better phrase: “efficient habitat restoration”
5. Finish writing new, majorly updated version of the Guide to Taking Kids Birding
6. Study bird behaviors in greater detail and encourage others to do so
None of these goals are set in stone. One thing we’ve learned from blogging the past three years is that it evolves in interesting ways and it is best to leave a lot of room to change and adapt as circumstances dictate.
Happy New Year to you Eddie and the entire Birdfreak crew! I applaud your list of goals and look forward to enjoying your progress as things unfold.
I think your “Guide to Taking Kids Birding” is not only an excellent reference but the best guide out there to teach adults the proper way to “turn kids into birders.” I can’t wait for the updated version.
I think one of the most important things we can do is get involved with habitat restoration, starting with our own environment but expanding locally and world wide if we can. Can you explore the term “efficient habitat restoration” so readers have a better idea of what you mean and why you are pushing for a change in terminology?
Studying bird behavior, in my opinion, is one of the most important and interesting aspects of birding. I encourage everyone to make this a top priority in their bird related activities. It will not only make birding more exciting for you, it will increase your ability to find birds in the wild. Knowing a species’ natural habitat and what that bird might be doing in that habitat at various times and seasons is critical to the overall birding experience.
I also want to thank you for creating Bird Photography Weekly. It is my favorite weekly post to participate in!
Good luck with the goals, and Happy New Year!
You’ve already been doing a lot of great work through this blog, reaching a lot of people and making a difference, and I’m impressed that you’re aiming to do even more.
If I might suggest one more resolution, Eddie, you should resolve to come over to Ohio in May to visit Veery and Kingfisher, and to come out birding at Magee Marsh at the height of migration. There’s going to be a lot going on this spring and I bet you’d enjoy it (and I bet you’d see a lot of your regular readers here).
At any rate, best wishes for the new year, and keep up the good work.
Kenn – Thank you so much for the kind words 🙂 You must have read my mind because I plan to go to Ohio in May with my fiance to visit and bird like crazy! Definitely plan to participate in the Biggest Week in American Birding as well. Will be an amazing time!!
Larry – thank you many times over! I appreciate your participation and thoughts on our goals. I will definitely be expanding on the new terminology in upcoming posts and hopefully can get the updated guide out in a timely manner.
I am glad you enjoy Bird Photography Weekly as well and I plan to continue it for the long term.
Moe – happy New Year to you too!! It’s going to be an awesome year!!