Chasing 500: A California Big Year

Van Pierszalowski

Tue, Feb 13, 2024 7:00 PM

Embark on a journey as Van Pierszalowski guides viewers through the highlights (and lowlights) of his record breaking 2023 California Big Year.

From his first bird of the year (a White-crowned Sparrow through his bedroom window in LA) to his last (a Black-headed Gull on a stormy beach in Santa Cruz), you’ll hear some of the best (and most ridiculous) stories of the year.

The discussion will also provide an overview on some of California’s most range-restricted resident species, the various ways of “counting birds”, tips on how to comfortably sleep in a Prius in a Walmart parking lot, and most of all, why doing a big year in California made Van fall even more in love with birding in California.

Van created this spreadsheet with details of all the birds he saw during the year.

Here is a video of the talk: