The Final Week

Here it is, Christmas Eve, December 24th... The final week of 2007. It's almost hard to believe that it has been 358 days, and that the year will be over, and my big year will be coming to an end. It seems almost too soon, and yet at the same time, couldn't get here any quicker. I've often heard that after doing big years, many birders are simply worn out, burned out, or just plain sick of birding. I for one promised myself that wouldn't be the case.. Ha ha. Yet when December rolled around I can honestly say I was burned out. I spent the first week of the month in New York City, and enjoyed several days of birding, of course I was seeing lifers and nemesis birds, so it was a different story. When I got back to Utah I should have hopped in my car and went out to find that next rarity. Instead, I sat on the couch and worked on my website... I spent time with many of the friends I've neglected over the past 11 months... And in all honesty, just took a break. A mush needed rest.

I don't have the numbers right in front of me, and I also want to hold off till I do a recap of the year next week, but needless to say I have spent more than 150 days birding this year, and drove well over 30,000 miles. It will be fun to see what the true totals end up being. Anywho, back to December. It should have been a December to remember, with a large invasion of Bohemian Waxwing, a CBC where I was fortunate to find an Anna's Hummingbird, and a smattering of winter gulls showing up. But, it really did finally catch up to me. When I got word of the Chestnut-collared Longspur last week, instead of running home to get my equipment and hurrying up, I caught a ride with the Sommerfeld's. I was a sight for sore eyes, standing in the cold, freezing in a hoody and tennis shoes. No camera... No binoculars... And a general lack in spirit. I must say it isn't the me that I am.

So with a week left, I am making a pact... to myself. I will end the year with a BANG! I plan on birding for at least 1 hour every day till the year is over. More so, I will find or see at least 1 more year bird, so I can end with at least 353 species for my Utah big year. And finally, I will go back and thank EVERYONE, every single person who in some way encouraged me, pushed me, cheered me on, cheered me up, found me birds, found me something to drink, called me with info, called me just to say hi, drove me, drove with me, slept while I drove, talked turkey with, talked gulls with, camped out with, dragged along, made me smile, helped me financially, went owling, went to the dump, walked in the snow, hiked in the heat, or in some way impacted my 2007.

It has been quite a year, and will hopefully go out with a bang. I have seen a lot this year, I have learned more, and have been grateful for all the help along the way. It will be something to remember, and not something I do again, any time soon. So here is to the final week of 2007, one hell of a year!