Extreme Birder

One Woman's Big Year

Lynn E. Barber

Narrated by Pamela Wolken

Available from Audible

Book published by Texas A&M University Press

One woman ... one year ... 723 species of birds...

In 2008, Lynn Barber's passion for birding led her to drive, fly, sail, walk, stalk, and sit in search of birds in twenty-five states and three provinces. Traveling more than 175,000 miles, she set a twenty-first century record at the time, second to only one other person in history.

Over 272 days, Barber observed 723 species of birds in North America north of Mexico, recording a remarkable 333 new species in January but, with the dwindling returns typical to Big Year birding, only eight in December, a month that found her crisscrossing the continent from Texas to Newfoundland, from Washington to Ontario. In the months between, she felt every extreme of climate, well-being, and emotion. But, whether finally spotting an elusive Blue Bunting or seeing three species of eiders in a single day, she was also challenged, inspired, and rewarded by nearly every experience.

Barber's journal from her American Birding Association-sanctioned Big Year covers the highlights of her treks to forests, canyons, mountain ranges, deserts, oceans, lakes, and numerous spots in between. Written in the informal style of a diary, it captures the detail, humor, challenges, and fun of a good adventure travelogue and also conveys the remarkable diversity of North American birds and habitat. For actual or would-be “travel birders,” Lynn Barber’s Extreme Birder provides a fascinating, binoculars-eye view of one of the best-loved pastimes of nature lovers everywhere.

Lynn E. Barber is a board member of the American Birding Association and president of the Texas Ornithological Society. A past president of the Fort Worth Audubon Society, she writes regularly for the chapter's newsletter and lectures across the nation about her life as a "traveling birder."

REVIEWS:

“Lynn Barber challenges a traditionally male-dominated pursuit—the birding big year—and is successful beyond her wildest dreams. She is an inspiration for all who love adventure, nature, and birds.”

—Lynn Hassler, author, Birds of the American Southwest

“Any birder who begins a new year by writing a list of birds seen will want to join Lynn as she goes through the year trying to find new birds for her Big Year. A bird addict whose urge can only be satified by seeing a new bird... and then... another new bird.”

—Sandy Komito, author, Birding's Indiana Jones, A Chaser's Diary

“This is a book for birders who wish to understand the daily chronicle of extreme birding. I have nothing but admiration and not a little bit of envy for Lynn Barber's Big Year odyssey. Her discipline, her rigor, her humor and her passion are found in very few; she is one in a million.”

—Jane Alexander, actress and birder

“"...devoted to a near-daily journal of Barber's birding activities...positive even when she faces setbacks...enjoyably whimsical...an enjoyable read...will undoubtedly encourage other birders to do their own big year...recommended for anyone interested in the birding and the lengths birders will go to set a new record.”

—The International Journal of Avian Science

“Extreme Birder has the immediate feel of accounts taken straight from Barber's diary...fine portrait of two Spotted Owls...Barber narrates the highs and lows, the excitement and despair...the book is attractively designed.”

—Texas Birds Annual 2011