Hi again,

A quick follow-up to my last message:

First, the IMDB page for "The Big Year" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/) lists the plot synopsis as "Three avid bird watchers compete to spot the rarest birds in North America at a prestigious annual event." I don't think "at a prestigious annual event" accurately describes a big year, and even though I'm pretty sure the screenwriter or director didn't write that, it still gives me pause that they didn't really get it. Maybe they changed the concept for the movie...or maybe, more likely, I'm over analyzing it. :)

Anyway, if you want to follow a big year in progress, check out this blog by Bob Ake: http://bobsbirds.blogspot.com/. He's already up to 690 but not really going all out! Also, a book about Lynn Barber's 2008 big year likely will be coming out sometime next year (see http://www.lynnbarber.com/). She finished with 723, which I believe is the all-time third best behind only Sandy Komito's two big years.

John Puschock
Wedgwood, Seattle
g_g_allin at hotmail.com
http://www.zbirdtours.com