Probable Changes to my Big Year Plans

In the last few blog posts, I indicated my intensions to complete an ABA Big Year that would focus on birds that are found within the borders of North America, above the Mexican border, and Hawaii. Now, apart from Hawaii, my trips around the continent may be limited.

Without going into detail, I think I would like to try doing a Big County. That is, I want to try and see as many birds within Milwaukee County as possible in 2026.

Milwaukee County is an underrated birding area in the Midwest. This portion is boarded by Lake Michigan on the east; transected by countless rivers, including the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic; and accented by different habitats that range from hardwood forest to prairie, oak savannah, wetlands and, of course, urban development. Not only will it be a lot cheaper to focus my birding energy to my “neck of the woods”; it will also be a great exercise in discipline.

I will say that I will continue to bird across the state, but will temper my twiching to find a Code 5 ABA bird on the other side of the state in, say, Trempealeau county. I would very much want to, but I will remind myself that I have plenty of time left in this life to see it.