Magnificent obsession

 

Birding megalister Peter Kaestner in the Philippines on Feb. 9, after snapping a photograph of his record-breaking bird, the Orange-tufted Spiderhunter. 

 "An obsessive birder since childhood, Mr. Kaestner woke up that morning in February with 9,997 birds on his personal “life list” — more than 90 percent of Earth’s scientifically recognized species and three away from a singular milestone. But he felt hurried. In an essay for the American Birding Association he had outlined his plans to become the first person to document 10,000 sightings."  New York Times

There are roughly 11,000 bird species in the world. Fewer than 60 people have ever seen 8,000; fewer than 20 have surpassed 9,000. 

Of the 11,000, only 750 species are found in North America, and Peter bagged the robins and sparrows when he was just a kid. Now he's searching for birds presumed extinct or extremely rare, which takes him to the most remote and dangerous places in the world.

Our flock of common little birds were chattering away as I tackled more of the yard clean up yesterday. Do they sense its going to be 70 degrees soon? Ah, spring. That's the warmest we've been since last October.