Birding's Most Sedentary Event
The new movie “The Big Year” depicts competitive birders racing around the country from Alaska to Florida to California and back again in pursuit of seeing the most species of birds.
In recent years a more subdued, but somewhat semi-competitive birding event has become popular. Called “The Big Sit”, it is simple and easy. Create a loose team of birders. Draw a circle 17-feet in diameter. Then team members sit in the circle all day and count the number of bird species they see. Last year there were teams in all 50 states plus international. The team with the highest total wins. Last year’s winning team in Cape May, NJ tallied 139 species
This is not hectic, stressful event. Most teams lounge in lawn chairs, eat, drink, socialize, gossip, joke, and have an all round good time. Somewhat like a tail-gate party before a Giants football game.
This year the date for the Big Sit is Sunday, October 9th. The local circle is at Lenoir Nature Preserve in northern Yonkers. The count starts at 8:00 a.m. It will be monitored mostly by members of the Hudson River Audubon Society. But everyone is welcome. Stop by for a few minutes or an hour. Enjoy a pleasant birding experience.
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