A Big Year
By Bob Kowalski

Would you go to the ends of the earth to see a bird? What if it were a really special bird: one with beautiful feathers, an entrancing call, or a silly dance? What if seeing that one special bird would allow you to win a contest?

If that contest doesn't get you on television or win you any cash prizes, would you still do it? For those who participate in the "Big Year," the honor of beating the previous record is the only reward they get or even want.

A "Big Year" is a year in which a person attempts to see as many different species of birds as possible within a particular region. For most in North America who participate in a "Big Year," this region is the lower 48 American states, plus Alaska, Canada, and a couple of French islands off the Canadian coast.

You may be thinking that looking at birds is silly, but just think about the numbers of the recent record holders and the commitment it takes to get these numbers. One recent "Big Year" winner managed to see 744 birds in one year, missing the record by just one bird. Big Year birders travel by train, plane, boat, car, bicycle, and of course, by foot. They can cover over 150 thousand miles to get numbers of sightings this high. They can also spend a small fortune.

Just to clarify, the birds these contestants are counting are the number that they see in a particular year. You see, the contest is based on an honor system. No pictures or other evidence is required as proof of a sighting. Most birders take great pride in their reputation and their abilities to see or hear and then identify a bird. Usually, important sightings of the rare birds needed to get counts in the 700s are visited by hundreds of birders. It is pretty hard to cheat your way to a record-breaking year, but in general, few are interested in cheating.

This honesty comes from the fact that most people who want to break such a record know the greatest rewards are not necessarily in winning. Such rewards are in being able to commit a year of your life to doing something you love. Rewards are found in seeing amazing, inspiring creatures like the California Condor or the Magnificent Frigate bird. Rewards also come in spending time with people who, like you, want to spend their time looking to the skies and trees for glimpses of emerald, crimson, or cerulean blue feathered jewels.

You don't have to be able to travel a continent to have a big birding experience though. Have a big month. Or a big weekend. Set a personal record, learn to identify the species that live in your part of the world, or try to learn the calls of just two species of birds. You will soon find looking at birds isn't such a strange way to spend your time.

Extra! Extra! Backyard Birding
Many schools, families, and young birders across the country participate in the "Great Backyard Bird Count." While not as long as a "Big Year," the "Great Backyard Bird Count" happens every year. It depends on birders and families across the country to watch feeders and other areas in their yards and count the number of birds they see. Unlike the "Big Year," the goal is not to see who can count the most birds. Instead, participants in this event work together to help bird experts get a good idea of how birds are doing. Participants are given checklists and enter their sightings on a website. Called a "citizen-science" project, this event is open to anyone, requires no travel, and happens every year over one weekend in February.
Read this sentence from the article:

You don't have to be able to travel a continent to have a big birding experience though.

Why would the author suggest multiple ways to have a "Big Year"? (5 points)

a
To create additional respect for birders

b
To encourage readers to look for birds

c
To imply birding is rather challenging

d
To suggest the idea of a Big Year is silly

Answer:

To encourage readers to look for birds

Explanation:

Answer: B. To encourage readers to look for birds.

Explanation: Good luck! :D

How did Senator J. William Fulbright build support for the doves in Congress?

A) Fulbright pushed for government funding for antiwar groups.
B) Fulbright held hearings that provided a platform for war critics.
C) Fulbright refused to put hawks on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
D) Fulbright refused to support the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

The geographic boundaries that defined the goals of Manifest Destiny were -
A the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
B the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains
C the Great Plains and Mississippi River
D Canada and Mexico

how does the nomination process for federal judges reflect the principle of separation of powers?

Question 8
Are there more cell phone users in Nigeria or South Africa?

Who made cave paintings carvings and musical instruments

HURRY PLEASEEE I RLLY NEED DIS The “Heartland of Canada” refers to the
a.
Atlantic Province.
b.
Prairie Province.
c.
Northern Territories.
d.
St. Lawrence Provinces.

The main importance of Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville to Florida's economy is that they
O are all major port cities.
O each have large numbers of apartments.
O are all agricultural centers.
O each have large numbers of factories.

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Why did the U.S. want to purchase California from Mexico?
a.
to instigate war with Mexico
b.
to retaliate against property damages to U.S. merchants in Mexico
c.
to gain free trade along the Pacific coast
d.
to allow more slave states into the Union


Please select the best answer from the choices provided

A
B
C
D

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Group of answer choices

Eli Whitney

Thomas Edison

Samuel Morse

James Watt

1) Write an essay on one unintended consequence of the Columbian Exchange. To begin, read the examples of actions and consequences below, and note how each consequence was intended or unintended. Write an essay that supports your thesis statement. Include details such as locations or countries, key people, populations involved, and ways in which the unintended consequence can be seen many years or even centuries later. [ Examples] 1) Action: Europeans take potatoes from tbe New World back to Europe). Consequence) Potatoes become an important crop, so much so that some European countries begin to depend on them as their main food source. ( Intended: Europeans Intended to grow potatoes in Europe to supplement the native crops). ( Unintended: Some European countries became overly dependent on the potato as a food source. [ Please don't repost someone else answer just to post on my question just to get points]. Will Mark Brainliest and give 5 ⭐ . If you can't help please don't answer. Thank you and have a great day. ​

PLEASE QUICK HELP I BEG OF YOU!!! GIVING ALL POINTS

If Pluto had not been demoted to a dwarf planet, what category if planet would if fall under? Explain your answer.

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What is meant by the term sovereignty

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A. Economic growth
B. Women’s rights
C. Political representation in congress
D. Rights over all forms of property

Which of the following was NOT a major question facing the United States after winning the war with Mexico?
a.
Should the U.S. move its troops out of Mexico City?
b.
Should California be permitted to join the Union?
c.
Should Washington D.C. continue to allow slavery?
d.
Should Texas be allowed to keep its claim on New Mexico territory?


Please select the best answer from the choices provided

A
B
C
D

26.) T/F: Buddhism and Hinduism both believe in Reincarnation
27.) T/F: In Buddhism, there is no afterlife
28.) T/F: In Hinduism, one must follow the Eightfold Path
29.) T/F: In Buddhism, the Buddha is the only God
30.) T/F: Buddhism and Hinduism both originated in India

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In the Roman Empire who was the legal commander of each legion

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(A) At dawn
(B) At noon
(C) In the middle of the night
(D) Early in the evening

Match the vocabulary word with the correct definition.

marathon

the use of reasoning to solve a problem

or gain knowledge

logic

a person with full legal rights under a

government

helot

a race of 26.3 miles

citizen

a group of buildings used to house

soldiers

barracks

a farm worker of ancient Sparta who had

few rights or freedoms

I talked with the major and learned that when it should start and our cars should be loaded we would drive
them back along the screened road and up to the main road along the ridge where there would be a post and
other cars to clear them.
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O The long-winded rant paints an image of a narrator who is less than stable.
o The style reflects the mundane actions and events of daily life in a war zone.
O The choice of simple words adds realism by mimicking the way people speak in real life.
The uninterrupted action mirrors how the orders will be carried out when the time comes

How did industrial production in the United States change following World War I?

Describe the U.S. policy of containment in your own words.

Which statement summarized the state of communism in the world today please help me

Which was more important, winning the War in Europe or winning the war in the Pacific?

HELPPP
Answer EACH of the following 3 questions:
1. Where did the Industrial Revolution begin?
2. What were some new innovations that came about because of the Industrial Revolution?
3. How did society change due Industrial Revolution?
Please answer the following questions in the textbox. Number each of your answers.

Alexander the Great was born in the land of _______.