Big Year updates:

Wow. I still can't believe that I'm currently in the 4th month of my Big Year. As of the morning of April 16 (today), I'm at 131 species. My most recent addition was a Vesper Sparrow at Techny North. I've gotten some awesome rarities in the month of April, such as Eared Grebe (!!!) and Yellow-crowned Night-heron, but I did have a pretty big miss with a Brewer's Blackbird. However, only 2 people got to see it anyway so I didn't think it'll affect my Big Year.

The birds:

Migration really has started, we're getting thrushes and thrashers and all that. Even some of the early warblers are starting to come through in Southern Cook County! Pretty soon they'll be dripping from the trees. I've adopted a new strategy for my Big Year which is essentially this: Get the rare and uncommon birds, and everything else will be a breeze. For example, yesterday I thought of going down to Burnham Prairie for Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers. Then I thought, I'll just get those at Techny in the tens in a week or so, so why bother? Even if I fall a little behind, so long as I have the rare and uncommon birds, I'm not worried. I sorta feel silly already for going specifically down south to try for Caspian Terns earlier. I'm gonna see them all the time!

Update about the recap:

I have to finish writing my journal for March, but as soon as I'm done I'll post it.

-Owen