Big Year Birders

Our birding hiatus is over! We are prepping for some big year birder adventures. Next we will follow roaster Avery Meeker while he birds through Colombia. Highlights will come directly from this account. Send us your big year highlights to get featured!

🦉 Burrowing Owls are nature's engineers! They create intricate underground burrows, often repurposing old prairie dog holes, to make cozy homes.

🔎 These pint-sized owls are day hunters and can mimic rattlesnake sounds to deter predators! 🌿

Perched in anticipation, their keen eyes scan the water's surface, seeking the slightest ripple or unsuspecting fish. Much like a skilled fisherman, they wield their secret weapon—a lure. Yes, you heard me right, a lure! These herons have been known to drop twigs, insects, or even bits of bread into the water, creating a tempting morsel for curious prey.

As their unsuspecting victims investigate this culinary illusion, the Green Heron strikes with the speed of a seasoned predator, its lightning-fast beak seizing its quarry with unerring accuracy. It's a ballet of nature, an artful dance of deception and precision.
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On the lookout for puffins and murres! We love coastal birding and the high cliffs above the pacific are excellent vantage points. When looking for puffins we look for fast flying footballs in flight, with rapid wing beats and lots of speed.

The places we travel create new opportunities for birds and birding. Over the next couple weeks I will be updating our website with over 30 articles I originally published under the moniker- the travel birder. These stories will help transform Big Year Birders into a travel birding hub where you can go to learn about our birding trips, hotspots around the world and how to enjoying birding while traveling.

That perfect moment when you get the shot! Spotted owls are mice predators and they don’t discriminate with domesticated mice This tactic of feeding mice allows biologists to locate nests. It’s getting less common to@use this tactic, but it’s still the most efficient way to get their attention.
📸 Avery Meeker (Avian Ecologist)

Making the most of summer birding at our local patch. The suns out and we are loving the birds even though things have quieted down a bit.

Spotted owls are not a common sight, but when you work alongside them you learn their habits. Avery Meeker spent a summer chasing these owls in southern Oregon and had many encounters with one of their few healthy populations. He loves to share stories about his time with these owls as they are a very special creature of the PNW woods where he grew up.

Join us for a 7 day adventure birdwatching through Costa Rica! Learn from avian ecologist Avery Meeker and local guide Marcos how to find and locate birds in the jungle. We will be birding extensively using guidebooks, apps and sound ID.

Birds connect us to the rest of the world. This little Wilson’s warbler is found from Central America up to Alaska, covering a migration distance of thousands of miles. Photo 2 the golden-crowned kinglet is a frequent elevational migrant, moving from the alpine zone in the summer down to the lower elevations come winter. We celebrate these migrants coming together in our nets in Yosemite, such a treat!

Wildlife experiences hit a bit different in Costa Rica. We are a one stop shop for travel to Costa Rica. We are able to create birding trips with detailed itineraries for large groups. Email us today to set up a meeting and discuss your itinerary today. - big year birding team
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Female resplendant quetzals on their own should be considered one of the most stunning birds in Costa Rica. Here they fight over space at a popular avocado tree where they find fruit in the savegre valley.
📸 Avery Meeker