[obol] My "quiet" Big Year of birding....

[khanh tran]

Hi Obolers,

In 2006, I had no intentions of setting any records for the number of birds 
seen in Oregon and the US.  I was extremely fortunate to have almost a year 
off and took advantage of the situation.  My ultimate goal was to have fun, 
be adventurous, and explore as many areas of Oregon and the US as time and 
money would allow.  As a result, I ended up doing an unofficial “Big Year”.  
Because it was unofficial, the year was very low key and I did far better 
than I could possibly imagine.  All the hours spent and energy required 
seemed effortless as I had a blast and the time of my life!!

For 2006, I drove over a total of 20,000 miles in Oregon, hiked countless 
miles, and spent an average of 5 hours per day in the field.  In the end, I 
managed to see a total of 367 species for Oregon (possible 368 for Crested 
Caracara-if record is accepted) and 567 for the US this past year.

At the end, I lost track of how many countless OBOL emails that were printed 
out or scrawled on paper. Traveling the state from corner to corner, I 
realize how fortunate I am to live in such a spectacular state full of 
rugged beautiful and diverse habitat, hosting a variety of interesting and 
beautiful birds. There were a lot of slow days of birding but the scenery 
made up for that low.  Hands down, the Wallowa and Imnaha areas were my 
favorite to bird and hike. However, it was a definite must to visit Malheur 
and Fields a few times for vagrants for that ‘big push.’  The nice surprise 
of the year  was Fern Ridge as it hosted many uncommon "goodies".

Some of birding highlights for 2006 included the following: awesome views of 
a male spruce grouse displaying to two hens with Steve Nord at McCully 
Creek; watching a cooperative and photogenic Great Gray Owl within 15 yards 
of our tent at Spring Creek (had to back away with my scope to get the 
entire bird into focus); doing Audubon Bird-a-thon with the Wild Turkeys and 
Wink Gross and raising a large amount of money (226 species in 48 hours); 
seeing Boreal owls at Broken Top and McCully Creek in the freezing cold with 
Andy Thompson; seeing the large flock of 150 snow buntings near Enterprise 
against the shimmery, white snow was surreal; conducting the ECBC Greenridge 
Hawkwatch; experiencing the thrill of seeing or hearing the nemesis, Oregon 
breeding birds such as spruce grouse, boreal owls, yellow rail, and upland 
sandpiper; and birding in Costa Rica with Mike Marsh for two weeks and 
seeing over 410 species of birds.

Much of my success would have not been possible without the help and support 
of so many kind and generous birders who provided me with such invaluable 
information.

A SPECIAL thanks to Mike Marsh who has inspired me to go to the limit. He is 
the ONE who re-kindled my birding interest after years of being absent.  He 
also reminded me that birding is about having fun and helping others out 
regardless of your skill level. I am forever grateful for his inspiration 
and influence.

I would also like to graciously thank the following people for their help 
and support (in no particular order):

Harry Nehls, Trent Bray, Ted Schroeder, Mike Houck, Linda Craig, Bob Wilson, 
Al Miller and Beth Parmenter, Tim Rodenkirk, John Thomas, Bill Clemmons, 
Alan Contreras, John Sullivan and Laura Johnson, Jim and Karan Fairchild, 
Noah Strycker, Sue Orlowski, Tom McNamara, Micheal Dossett, John Gatchet, 
Steve Nord, David Bailey, Julia Fukuda, Karen Sharples, Chuck Gates, Steve 
Shunk, Peter Low, Joel Geier, Judy Meredith, Wink Gross, Jay Withgott, Tim 
Janzen, Jeff Gilligan, Andy Frank, Ruth and Patrick Sullivan, Sheran Wright, 
David Herr, Mike and Merryann Denny, Greg Gillison, Don Sutherland, Theresia 
Schwinghammer, Donna Lustoff, Jim Carlson, Paul T. Sullivan and Carol 
Karlen, Joanne Britton, David Budeau, Gary Miller, Victor Coggins, Mike 
Baird, Lars Norgren, Andy Thompson, Duncan Evered, and Cindy Lippincott.

I apologize if I forgot anyone else.

Most of all, I cannot forget to remember and honor, Joe Evanich, whose guide 
has remained extremely valuable to this day.  It is quite impressive as to 
how much of a  birding area he covered and described before he passed away. 
I definitely felt his spirit while I was in the areas he described 
throughout the birding guide.

It was a year of quality birds, quality views, quality digiscoping, and 
meeting some very nice quality birders and friends.

Once again, thank you so much for an INCREDIBLE YEAR… Good birding to you in 
2007 and hope to see you in the field.  Please let me know if I can ever 
extend the same gesture and kindness.

Wishing you the very best!!

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)