February Updates for Lindsay’s Virtual Big Year
When I started Fantasy Birding, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I’m learning during this process. Since Michigan winters are a little slower in bird diversity, it’s a great time to explore the game options. During this process, I’ve discovered that there is so much more to Fantasy Birding than I initially thought.
First, you pick where you want to bird. This can be scheduled days or weeks in advance, and you can change it up to 6 a.m. on that day. Once 6 a.m. hits, your location is locked in for that day. Because Fantasy Birding relies on eBird submissions, the game moves you around hotspots in the area you selected for the day.
When you sign into the website and click the play button, it begins to pop-up live bird sightings. It also tells you about the spot you’re birding, including the current weather. As bird sightings are reported to eBird, the game pops up photos of the species. The bird in the picture isn’t immediately identified, allowing you to practice your ID skills. There’s even an option to hear the bird through a recording. When you’re ready, you can click on the bird and check if you correctly identified the species.
I’ve found the bird sighting pop-ups to be incredibly helpful in building my confidence in birding. Not only can I practice using photos, but I can begin learning songs. The pop-ups even offer more information about the species with links to outside resources. I find facts about birds completely fascinating and have been able to stumble upon many different tidbits of information about species I’m able to see in my backyard.
Even after you’ve closed the pop-up to move on to the next sighting, you can click on your list from the site you’re birding and see all the species and information on one page. Additionally, you can explore species and hotspots that you and other players have seen and visited.
From an educational standpoint, the benefits of Fantasy Birding are vast, and it offers opportunities for folks with different interests and skill levels. On top of that, it’s a fun experience that can build confidence and memories from the comfort of one’s own home while exploring places around the state, country, and world.
I’ve been actively and consistently using Fantasy Birding for about six weeks now. I must admit that I’m enjoying this even more than I imagined. I set out to do my Michigan big year with the help of Matt Smith from fanstasybirding.com. He was kind enough to set-up the Michigan big year game, and I hope you consider joining me in my year of Fantasy Birding!
~ by Lindsay Cain, Michigan Audubon education coordinator
Featured photo: Horned Lark by Karen E. Brown | AUD GBBC
Lindsay added Horned Lark to her list on Feb. 2 while birding in Williamston.
Species Highlight:
Lapland Longspur
I added Lapland Longspur to my list on Feb. 7 while birding near Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor.
Of the four species of longspurs that can be found in North America, the Lapland Longspur is the only one that can be found outside of North America.
Photo by Darrell Lawson.
Biggest Day
Sunday, Feb. 7, at Nichols Arboretum at the University of Michigan, was my biggest day of the month. I had 52 species total and added six species to my virtual life list. That was my biggest day since beginning this virtual big year.
You Can Help My Virtual Big Year!
I’m always up for suggestions on places to go on certain days, especially if people are going out birding. I don’t get to add any species if no one is reporting to eBird in the location I pick on that given day. You can email me your birding plans at lcain@michiganaudubon.org.
Hotspot Highlight
I chose to go to the Muskegon Wastewater Treatment Plant on a weekend at the suggestion of my young birders to add some gulls and waterfowl to my list. That was Jan. 23; I had 30 species and added seven to my list. Thank you Michigan Young Birders Network for the great tip!
Lindsay Cain is Michigan Audubon’s education coordinator. If you are interested in learning more about our events, workshops, presentations, or event sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lindsay at 517.580.7364 or lcain@michiganaudubon.org.
You can follow Lindsay’s virtual big year journey through her monthly blog posts or start your Fantasy Birding adventure and look for her on the scoreboards. You can find her under the username “lcain” with a Turkey Vulture as her avatar.