A month-by-month journey through our 2015 Little Big Year. To cross the finish line of 500 species, we went coast to coast, submitted 295 eBird checklists, boarded 21 round-trip flights, and spent 72 nights in hotels. It was a whirlwind adventure that completely changed how we travel, bird, and see the world.
January
January Stats: 95 species logged | 12 eBird checklists | 1 major lifer chase
The Momentum: Starting the year with a massive local push, setting a heavy baseline, and scoring an unforgettable winter rarity chase for a lifetime bird—the Whooping Crane.
January 3 – Here We Go — The year begins with local birding and the first species on the list.
January 23 – Whoop Whoop! — A winter rarity chase leads to unforgettable views of a Whooping Crane.
January 30 – Sparrow Drive — A morning of sparrow banding and close‑up looks at winter grassland species.
February
February Stats: 109 species total (+15) | Snow, Finches & South Beach Sunshine
The Momentum: Embracing the ultimate weather extremes! From the frozen roads of upstate New York’s Adirondacks for winter species to a fast-paced species run through Miami Beach.
February 5 – Winter Birding in the Adirondacks — Snow, finches, and northern specialties in upstate New York.
February 14 – Miami Boat Show and Birding — A weekend of boats, beaches, and South Florida specialties.
March
March Stats: 170 species total (+61) | Coastal Long Island & Big O Festival
The Momentum: Migration is officially starting! Braving the crisp coastal winds of Long Island for wintering waterfowl and shorebirds, before racing back south for the early spring migrants at the annual Big O Festival.
March 7 – SPAS Birding — A productive morning with St. Petersburg Audubon.
March 13 – The Big ‘O’ — Circling Lake Okeechobee in search of waders and early migrants.
March 20 – New Jersey & Long Island — A chilly coastal run for alcids, gulls, and wintering ducks.
March 28 – Spring Migration Meets Duck Dynasty — Early migrants and ducks across Tampa Bay.
April
April Stats: 304 species total (+134) | CA, Arizona, & The Grand Circle
The Momentum: This is the exact moment we officially realized we were locked into a Little Big Year adventure! Passing the 300-species mark during a chase across California, Texas, Arizona, and the Grand Circle.
April 8 – From California to the Texas Coast — A two‑state sprint for Western species and Gulf Coast migrants.
April 18 – Grand Circle Tour — Red rock landscapes and desert specialties across the Southwest.
April 24 – It’s Getting Verde Birdy — Spring birding along Arizona’s Verde River.
May
May Stats: 341 species total (+37) | The Biggest Week, Cape Coral Burrowing Owls & Siesta Key
The Momentum: We joined the legendary madness of the “Biggest Week” to sweep up warblers, before heading back down to Florida for some classic birding—highlighted by the ground-dwelling Burrowing Owls of Cape Coral.
May 3 – Birding the Local Patches — A reset day exploring favorite spots close to home.
May 16 – The Biggest Week in American Birding — Warbler heaven in northwest Ohio.
May 23–31 – West Coast Florida Specialties — A week of shorebirds, skimmers, and Gulf Coast favorites.
June
June Stats: 364 species total (+23) | Florida Pelagic & Adirondacks Boreal Blitz
The Momentum: You cannot pull off a successful Big Year without hitting the ocean for pelagic species. Next, we headed north to the Adirondacks for boreal species alongside the legendary Joan Collins.
June 7 – Florida Pelagic Birding — A rare offshore trip for shearwaters and storm‑petrels.
June 21 – Adirondack Free Birds & Jail Birds — A scary mix of mountain birding with escaped convicts on the loose.
July
July Stats: 404 species total (+40) | Arizona Trogon Trek & Florida’s Newest Countable
The Momentum: We hit the 400-species milestone! Heading into Arizona’s Huachuca Mountains to successfully track down the Elegant Trogon. To top off a huge month, we headed back to Florida to log the newly countable Egyptian Goose officially!
July 3 – Southeast Arizona Birding — Hummingbirds, trogons, and monsoon magic in the Sky Islands.
July 16 – Chasing Florida Rarities — A hot‑weather chase for midsummer surprises.
August
August Stats: 405 species total (+1) | The Newfoundland Detour & Chazy Riverlands Save
The Momentum: We took an incredible trip to Newfoundland and logged 14 year species—which didn’t count for the Lower 48 Little Big Year. Later, a stop at the Chazy Riverlands added the only year bird, a Bank Swallow!
August 16 – Puffins, Gannets & Murres — A cold‑water pelagic adventure off Newfoundland.
August 18 – Newfoundland Part II — Seabirds, rugged cliffs, and northern specialties.
September
September Stats: 460 species total (+55) | Mega-Rarities & Legendary Pelagics
The Momentum: We teamed up with Jeff Babson in Arizona’s Ramsey Canyon to score a true mega-rarity we will likely never see again: the Tufted Flycatcher. Next, we headed to the West Coast for a phenomenal California pelagic trip with the legendary Debi Shearwater, bringing our list into the high 450s!
September 4 – Arizona, Third Time’s a Charm — Another run at the Sky Islands with new species added.
September 12 – California Seabirds — A West Coast pelagic for shearwaters, jaegers, and more.
September 30 – Florida Fall Migration — Warblers and raptors moving through the Gulf Coast.
October
October Stats: 472 species total (+12) | Owl Banding & Florida’s Only Endemic
The Momentum: We joined Larry Master for an incredible night of banding miniature Northern Saw-whet Owls, before heading back to Florida to check off the Florida Scrub-Jay—the only bird species found exclusively in Florida.
October 11 – Owling With The Master — A night in the Adirondacks learning from an expert bander.
October 31 – The Florida Endemic — A Halloween visit with the Florida Scrub‑Jay.
November
November Stats: 496 species total (+24) | Rio Grande Festival & The Great Florida Sweep
The Momentum: We headed back to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival and successfully found the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl at King Ranch. Back in Florida, we drove from Playalinda down to Key West—adding the Common Myna and Northern Gannet.
November 6 – Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival — South Texas specialties and festival‑week excitement.
November 24 – Central Florida & The Keys — Mangroves, shorebirds, and a warm‑weather escape.
December
December Stats: 519 species Grand Finalé (+23) | The Snowy Rockies & Milestone #500
The Momentum: On November 8th, we swore off red-eyes. That lasted until December 5th, when we headed to a new birding state, Colorado. There, we logged our goal of the 500th species: the Clark’s Nutcracker. Our final trip to California on December 27th delivered our very last bird of the year and a new lifer—the Williamson’s Sapsucker. dropping We finished our Little Big Year with 519 species!
December 5 – Colorado Winter Birding — Rosy‑finches, raptors, and snow‑covered landscapes.
December 21 – Savannah & South Carolina — Coastal marshes and wintering waterfowl.
December 27 – California, The Final Trip — The last push of the year and the final lifers.
Reflection
Big Year Reflection: The Journey to 500 — Looking back at the miles, moments, and species that shaped the year.
The Final Tally
| Stat | Impact |
| Final Count | 519 Species Lower 48 |
| The Goal | Bird #500: Clark’s Nutcracker (Colorado, Dec 5) |
| The Finale | Bird #519: Williamson’s Sapsucker (California, Dec 27) |
🦜 Follow the Journey on eBird
Want to see the complete, line-by-line checklists, photos, and location maps from this journey? Explore our live stats and tracking data directly on our eBird profiles.
You must be logged in to post a comment.