How cool to meet Al on the birding trail and get this interview. 2, on a tour boat in Bodega Bay: Al Levantin, a retired Fortune 500 chief executive now living in a mansion near Aspen and itching for a challenge. How do you keep track of your bird observations? History of the Christmas Bird Count Anything about your family youd like to share with us? So, up in the tree up there, there's a red-tailed hawk and there's a raven flying past it, said Dick Filby, a local birder who leads winter bird outings in the Snowmass Ski Area. I mean, you never quite know until you get the data, but we had a good group of people, he said. Police Academy Sponsored Cadet $68,120 per year. Be very afraid." Obmascik, a Denver journalist, cunningly keeps the winner and his final tally secret until the end of this sprightly account, which he narrates with an omniscient, wry and sympathetic voice. Fellow birder Allen Levantin also started birding as a kid growing up in the Bronx, a borough in New York City. During a telephone interview last week, Greg Miller lived up to his observation that he is an easy guy to talk to. The ensemble cast includes Rashida Jones from The Office, Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory, and Anthony Anderson from Law & Order. Near year's end, all three players wind up on a boat tour off Cape Hatteras. When I started working on my book The Big Year, I often had to assure people that this quirky tale of competitive birdwatching was really true. The best-known Big Year is 1998 when three birders Al Levantin, Greg Miller and Sandy Komito (who held the standing record from 1987) set out to break Komito's standing record of 722 species. He said the way to contend with lions on the trail was to make ourselves big, just as you say. Spread the word. Any good backyard birding stories or amazing backyard bird sightings you can share? This holiday tradition was known as the Christmas Side Hunt, and whoever brought in the biggest bounty won, but on Christmas Day in 1900, a well-known ornithologist proposed a new holiday tradition: a "Christmas Bird Census." We protect birds and the places they need. A self-made man in business, he was determined to be a self-made man in birding. To bird the island effectively you need 50 birders to cover the area over a prolonged period of time. And not only did he do a big year but it turns out that he did a big year at the same time as two other birders, and it turned out to be the biggest big . Ive birded with a woman who was at Attu with Sandy Komito, and now I can say Ive birded with a guy who interviewed Al Levantin. And the more people who participate, the better the data. Second, Al Levantin, a bird-watching hobbyist who waited 40 years for the perfect time to take a year off and try for a Big Year. It was an incredible experience passing the 700-species markan achievement many birders aspire to in a lifetime. I hope they do a good job with the movie, it should be fun to watch how the chase played out. It was started in England, and all the royalty would go out on a huge hunt, Larson said. Well, in 1998 Al Levantin did what for many North American birders is a dream unfulfilled he did a North American Big Year (seeing as many species as possible in North America in one year). Do you feel that technology in today's world makes doing a Big Year easier? Mark I communicate with some regularity. A short moment later, Robertson, the biologist, spotted a nuthatch shimmying down a tree trunk. How accurate a portrayal is the book and the movie of the real Greg Miller? On December 5 more of our group arrived. By. 3, Greg Miller, a software jock from Maryland who began birding early in his rural Mennonite childhood and retains an amazing ear. His blog at GregMillerBirding.com has lots of great information on bird identification, migration and distribution in the USA. Birder Profile is a weekly blog segment at "Birding is Fun!" spotlighting a fellow birder. How old was Levantin. Bookmarks are saved to your account and can be accessed from any device. Would you have chosen someone else? I used to watch them every day, and I ended up learning to love them, she said. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I just read The Big Year in the last month and loved it! For Roaring Fork Audubon organizer Mark Fuller, it was another great day of birding in the books. Can you see him? Bokram said in a hushed tone. mso-page-orientation: portrait; C: In The Big Year, Mark Obmascik really plays up the rivalry between you and Sandy Komito. The stars are Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. It has a brown head with little white dots on it, and it has a white breast and belly with black streaks, he said. Enter contestant No. A pleasure to bird with..I learned allot from him. Contingency plans ahead of time just save time during the course of the year. Many years later, I did what is called a big year, where you spend the whole year looking to find as many species as possible.. A "Big Year" is a birding term meaning that a birder is going to try to see as many bird species as possible in a given year. Obmascik said his initial interest in the story was based more on the mens obsession than on the subject of birding, which to the outsider may seem quite dull. Sandy and I were very friendly. Do you have any local birding hotspots that may be yet unknown to other birders that you would be willing to share with us? Birders Ted Robertson, from left, Dick Filby and Al Levantin counted 98 Canada geese in the Roaring Fork River near Aspen Glen on Dec. 18. On my return to the base I called her to advise that I was with a very slinky female with beautiful eyes that was truly athletic. The temperature was only 2 degrees, and the sun was just hitting the top of Mt. Mark Obmascik's popular book "The Big Year" chronicled the birding journey of Snowmass Village's Al Levantin and his birding competitors (it was adapted into a 2011 film with Steve Martin playing Levantin).. Katachadourian's installation is like the ultimate local "life list" and "county list" of birds . We also delighted in seeing 20 Snow Geese fly over downtown Carbondale and 35 Pinyon Jays at a local feeder. And now with birding, it's all about what you see, you hear and also the feeling., Birders count species in the upper valley with ACES. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. I'm recording everything, so I repeat everything just to confirm.. He also remains in touch with author Obmasick, who was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team (for the Columbine shooting coverage) at The Denver Post. Farther down the river, the trio counted two green-winged teals floating along with several mallard ducks and an elusive American dipper bobbing in and out of the frigid water. Should we walk a little bit down the river to see what else we can see? Ethel Levantin All Rights Reserved. Every year around Christmas time, local residents join tens of thousands of people across the Western Hemisphere to record all the birds they see or hear within a 15-mile radius. Or take action immediately with one of our current campaigns below: The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to more than 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. Pruddens friend Ann Larson peered through her binoculars just a few feet away and smiled at the memory. At the same time, the director was working hard to make it ring true to birds and birders. Are you involved with any local or national birding organizations? Not surprisingly, the notion of turning birds into ammo sprang from the warrior sex. It was a beautiful day.. Code 1 and 2 are common or fairly common species that a birder should be able to see with a certain amount of effort. The first Bicknells I ever saw was in Central Park and I saw another subsequently in the park. At one point a boat operator whom the wiseacre Komito has famously alienated takes Miller to sea just to help him win. National Audubon Society In the film trailer, Martin is seen getting plowed over as he stops to spot a bird on a ski run. Pledge to stand with Audubon to call on elected officials to listen to science and work towards climate solutions. Bokram and a small group of women have been assigned by ACES to count as many birds as they can in the Snowmass Village and Woody Creek areas. This is Larsons fifth or sixth Christmas Bird Count. Scan the QR code or visit us online for a full list of open positions. The actual men were Sandy Komito, Al Levantin, and Greg Miller, who were chasing Komito's prior record. I sometimes call myself a pity birder because I go places and the birds take pity and come over, she said. According to Fuller, this years downvalley count was a success. So, with birding, you do stop and it is peaceful. May you see both your Blue Mockingbird and white Gyrfalcon this year! Recently Lynn Barber of Texas did a big year and I believe she saw 723 species even though she spent a very considerable period in and around Alaska. With which cast members did you forge any particular lasting friendships? Some bird photos that could have been good, Anticipation Building for Midwest Birding Symposium. There's also intrigue aplenty: Miller realizes he's been unmasked, late in the game, when he rushes to a rare-bird sighting in Massachusetts and a stranger tells him, "Sandy Komito says hi." Based on Al and Gregs visit to Hollilynn Drive in Boise for Gray Partridge, I had to run out there and see the location for myself. Mailing Address: In part, there were the physical conditions produced by an El Nino season. . And there was a beautiful Brown-capped Rosy Finch, one of the toughest-to-find birds in the U.S., I'd say, and one I had not seen since 2006, and then it was at a feeder (at famous Big Year birder Al Levantin's house, I should add). Al Levantin, Birding in Tanzania and one of the three original birders in the book The Big Year. Which is your favorite field guide and why? Where in Ohio would you say is the most under-birded place that may have great untapped potential? Levantin's real-life big year started with watching birds from skis on the Snowmass Ski Area. Translation: "I'm on to you, friend. Benton Basham - 710 (1983) 27. Accompanying the red-tailed hawk, there's a bunch of American crows and black-billed magpies, Filby said. C: Is there anything else you want to add? That meant a Big Year on his own terms. A: Im not 100% sure who will play my role but Im leaning toward Steve Martin. A lot. Every year around Christmas time, local residents join tens of thousands of people across the Western Hemisphere to record all the birds they see or hear within a 15-mile radius. *Since this interview was conducted it has been revealed that Steve Martin will be playing Al. The idea was to count and observe birds rather than eat them or hunt them for identification. What Miller lacks in money and experience -- he's nearly broke, out of shape and a generation younger than the top guns -- he makes up for in desperation. Local help is also desirable to maximize your time. 66 years. People like Kenn Kaufman, Neil Hayward and Christian Hagenlocher have done really inspiring Big Years. (To ensure the correct species appear on screen, Im told some birds were added laterso, for instance, Jack Black points binocs into a bush and then stock footage is added.). In addition to the lack of access to Attu that Mr Levantin mentioned, another reason a year like that would be hard to achieve is the much more restrictive rules regarding airplane travel. I saw 711. I was thrilled to hear that Owen Wilson and Steve Martin talked about Nuttings flycatchers and rufous-capped warblers. Anything else that you would like to humbly brag about? Birding helped Wender slow down, much as it did with Bokram. Later we confessed. Sandy Komito, Al Levantin, and Greg Miller had the time of their lives racing to break the North American birding record, and I had the time of my life recounting their tale. Tag Archives: Al Levantin South Texas December 2012 Day 2. Other days, if you see a man with a pair of binoculars dashing after a rosy finch or a favored bird of prey, youll know that youve found Al Levitan in his very natural habitat. Say goodbye to checking tape-recorded rare bird alerts from phone booths. Any cool bird sightings during the creation of the movie? There was a mockingbird in Arizona last year that I didnt chase. mso-footer: none; . Bokram was able to identify the woodpecker as male because of the small red tuft near the crown of his head. Was it really that intense? The Audubon Societys Christmas Bird Count started in the 1900s and has been going on for more than 120 years. In 1998 Greg zigzagged across the continenttraveling 130,000 mileswhile trying to hold down a full time job at a nuclear power plantto try to see as many species of birds in one calendar year as possible. Obmascik tracks three competitors through their Big Year: Sandy Komito, retired from the construction business in New Jersey, is a previous Big Year winner and he is trying to replicate his earlier win. This leaning tree is their favorite tree because right underneath the hunting is the best. Should we walk a little bit down the river to see what else we can see?. C: What was in the book that you hope might make it into the movie? The information that I have is all from the Internet. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Levantins character in the film will be played by Steve Martin, with Jack Black and Owen Wilson cast as the other two male leads in The Big Year. Supporting actors include Anjelica Huston, Brian Dennehy and JoBeth Williams. Book Jacket from "The Big Year" by Mark Obmascik (Free Press) to be used with book review only. Here is the Bird Calls radio archive of Saturday, Oct 29, with guest Al Levantin, one of the three original birders about which "The Big Year" book was written. Sign up for Audubon emails on how you can help and enjoy birds in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Were you able to convert any of the cast and crew into birders? In that year three birders, Sandy Komito, Al Levantin and Greg Miller, chased Komito's record of 721 birds. A birding festival on Mount Desert Island, Maine (Acadia National Park). They would just kill anything they saw pretty much. Instead of being set in 1998 like the book, the movie takes place in the present. The idea was to count and observe birds rather than eat them or hunt them for identification. I provided the seeds, nuts, and suet, and the birds came in droves. And then The Big Year turned even wilder. He was on the set for 3 weeks with many of the actors and crew and got to meet the stars! Others started a Big Year in some big birding hot spot; Levantin insisted on being with his wife for New Year's. Others hired guides to ease the discovery of rare birds; Levantin wanted to find everything himself. My wife asked me not to hike up the mountain without someone accompanying me on the trip to find the Colima Warbler. After a quiet stop outside the house, the birders headed on to the nature park. Colorado, where I met Al Levantin, an incredible birder and one of the subjects of Mark Obmascik's classic The Big Year . Its a male hairy. It is a lifelong thing, and hopefully I live long enough to be able to name some birds, she said, laughing. @page { A short moment later, Robertson, the biologist, spotted a nuthatch shimmying down a tree trunk. . You start at 70 and it's hard!. (Im not sure I want an answer to this last one because if it turns out not to be true I will be bummed because it is one of my favorite parts of the book.). Anytime the ponds freeze up, the kingfishers move to the river, and when the river freezes up, they head south, Filby said. Steve Martin plays him in the film adaptation of a book called The Big Year. Its the story of Levantin and several other birders competing to set the North American record for the most bird species spotted in 1998. Audubon Society has big expectations for boost in birder numbers from 'The Big Year': Aerial View Learn how her father, grandparents, and the Christmas Bird Count sparked a family tradition and a passion for birds. Levantin may not have won the competition, but it hasnt stopped him from counting birds. During 1998 he would call us at all hours of the day/night and ask what was being seen wherever he was. Bird Galveston's East End with one of the world's most famous birders! They even had trained Norwegian rats scamper, on cue, through the barracks from one actor to another. Our competitive quests are documented in the 2004 non fiction book, The Big Year, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Mark Obmascik. The last step in the Christmas Bird Count is to compile and submit the local data to the National Audubon Society. After a quiet stop outside the house, the birders headed on to the nature park. Many birders know Mr. Levantin from the book The Big Year, in which his quest to see a record number of species in North America was chronicled. Neither man is aware of the existence of contestant No. 2, on a tour boat in Bodega Bay: Al Levantin, a retired Fortune 500 chief executive now living in a mansion near Aspen and itching for a challenge. It didnt take them long to spot their first birds. Met him in person for the first time this year and he is the most down to earth, kind, excitable fella. 2 things he loved to do. A: The rivalry with Sandy was a bit overblown. The Big Year is a 2011 American comedy film starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin, directed by David Frankel and written by Howard Franklin.The film was based on the 2004 non-fiction book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik. Anjelica Huston, Dianne Wiest, JoBeth Williams, and Brian Dennehy play supporting roles. April 13, 2004 12 AM PT. A watcher, a lister, a chaser, ticker, twitcher all of the above, or something else? On the way, the group stopped to pay homage to the former house of longtime local Dave Clark. Registration and Cancellation East Island Birding with Greg Miller. I used to watch them every day, and I ended up learning to love them, she said. Farther down the river, the trio counted two green-winged teals floating along with several mallard ducks and an elusive American dipper bobbing in and out of the frigid water. Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count and how to participate. After counting several new species in Carbondale, the group headed to their next stop: the Aspen Glen neighborhood. Its certainly not a documentary. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazineand the latest on birds and their habitats. The bald eagles were nowhere in sight, but Levantin and the others spotted a gaggle of geese in the Roaring Fork River. Al talks about his Big Year, birding in general, birding in Central Park, his encounter with a mountain lion and how many birds he logged in Connecticut during his Big Year (Nutmeggers may not like the answer.) He lives in a gorgeous house in Aspen, Colorado. What is your relationship today with Mark Obmascik, Sandy Komito, and Al Levantin? I sometimes call myself a pity birder because I go places and the birds take pity and come over, she said. Levantin, who owns an apartment in New York City as well as a house in Colorado, will discuss his Big Year, the movie, where he likes to birdwatch, and a variety of other topics. A beginner birders perspective and tips on attending your first Christmas Bird Count. I got a pretty good photo of a Chukar there and stopped in to visit the World Center for Birds of Prey which is right there. The book followed three men on a quest for a Big Year - a competition among birders to see who can see and identify the greatest number of species of birds in North America (north of Mexico) in a calendar year. There were 25 early birds who gathered on December 17, 2022, for RFAs 47th annual CBC. "The Big Year" reads like a good novel, with vibrant writing and a rollicking plot that keeps folding back on itself. On another Rosy-Finch note, local birder Al Levantin has invited me to his house, which is probably the best spot in the world to see Brown Capped Rosy-Finches, as well as the other two species. I had broken my arm this spring and Ann came and picked me up and drove me to her apartment and sat me by the window to watch all the birds, Prudden said. I enjoyed the book tremendously. Levantin would never say this, but according to his fellow birders, hes kind of a big deal. One birder on the scene was local student George Waaler. C: What advice do you have for a hypothetical birder contemplating a North American (or even a state-wide) big year? Steve Martin plays him in the film adaptation of a book called The Big Year. Its the story of Levantin and several other birders competing to set the North American record for the most bird species spotted in 1998. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and the Roaring Fork Audubon Society held their counts Dec. 18 and 19. Al: corporate chief executive. The day started at 7:30 am with pastries and caffeine at Marys condo in downtown Carbondale. Greg is currently on many bird-related boards and committees and has been instrumental in decisions on listing and conservation. He was great. the birder and anti-birder alike A humorous look at 50 common North American dumb birds: For those who have a disdain for birds or bird lovers with a sense of humor, this snarky, illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, andlet's face ittrue. Unless otherwise noted all images are copyrighted by the author of the post and they retain all rights to their images. For financial reasons, most of this movie was filmed in Canada, but the filmmakers did find some pretty convincing stand-ins for places in the book. You see that stem right there that's where he stands and looks down at the river, she said. Retiree Al Levantin also has the resources to go anywhere, anytime but isn't as obsessed as the other two. The truth is, I havent seen it yet or read the script. And then theres Attu. One birder on the scene was local student George Waaler. There are lots of birds to see here, but Tekces favorite are the bald eagles, which used to nest right in front of her house. A birding site by one of the guys from The Big Year (book & movie) Search. margin: 0.4cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; One cant just drop everything and take off at a moments notice anymore. A: The movie is a comedy and Im very pleased to have Steve Martin play my part. I wish I got better photos. A: Im not involved in the movie in anyway at present. All Rights Reserved. They would just kill anything they saw pretty much. It begins before sunrise on Jan. 1 of each year. . Bokram and a small group of women have been assigned by ACES to count as many birds as they can in the Snowmass Village and Woody Creek areas. A: 1998 was a fun year and I always tell people to chase your dreams, which I waited 40 years to do. He was great.. Au contraire. This was his second Christmas Bird Count, and he was hoping to see a northern pygmy-owl this year. Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact Us. Photo: Joanie Christian/Audubon Photography Awards, Colorados Proposed Stream Restoration LegislationPart 1, The Role of Water and Fire in Ecological Forest Management, Experimenting Today to Save Tomorrows Soils, Colorado Field Ornithologists Pinyon Jay Community Science Project, No, Youre Not Too Inexperienced to Join the Christmas Bird Count, Meet Sage, Pagosa Springs Emerging Bird Mentor. Is there a birder you'd like to see featured? Help or learn about birds at a virtual or in-person event. To replicate a mountainous Aleutian isle with fantastic birdslike the great knot and yellow-throated buntingbut no trees, permanent human residents, or reliable plumbing, the director packed up the entire movie production into semi-trailers and trucked three days up the Alaskan Highway to Dawson City in the Yukon. Aspen Public Radio | On the Sunday before Christmas, local resident Liz Bokram stood in front of an employee-housing complex in Snowmass Village and pointed her binoculars at a nearby tree. That way, scientists and birders can help protect these feathered friends into the future. I've been here 50 years, and I started birding before I got here, and I'm still doing it, he said. Find out more . It was a beautiful day. Fellow birder and wildlife biologist Ted Robertson keeps track of the total count using a birding app called eBird, which was developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. . Many years later, I did what is called a big year, where you spend the whole year looking to find as many species as possible. Second birder is Al Leventin, a very wealthy man who lives in a mansion in the Colorado Mountains. There, in a forsaken valley not far from the Arctic Circle, they built a striking replica of the ramshackle World War II barracks that birders in my book had relied upon in Attu. That may all change with next years release of a movie that promises to spotlight some of these distant bird havens in Alaska, Arizona, Texas and even northern Minnesota. SNOWMASS VILLAGE Its been more than a decade since local Al Levantin embarked upon the amazing bird watching journey that became fodder for the non-fiction book The Big Year by Mark Obmascik. While we were missing many of the northern snowbirds we expected to see, highlights included seeing the Northern Pygmy Owl, Northern Shrike, Barrows Goldeneye, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. The race was on: Losers eat dirt. The third birder in The Big Year . We gave him an inflated number and then Greg added that I had some easy birds that I was sure to get on the trip. To this day people ask me to autograph their books. A: My encounter with a Mountain Lion in Big Bend. Levantin has . The bald eagles were nowhere in sight, but Levantin and the others spotted a gaggle of geese in the Roaring Fork River. . There are more Code 1 and 2 species. Join one of the worlds longest-running community science projects. When my husband and I were hiking on Mt. Mary Harris, RFAs chair, took me under her wing, and I found my flock of wonderful birders and birds. Where Are You Birding This First Weekend of October 2008? The fellow who saw the most at that time saw 742. If you have been on this tour, please be the first to leave a review. It is a lifelong thing, and hopefully I live long enough to be able to name some birds, she said, laughing. This was a chance to write about people I actually liked. Over the course of the year it took to research and write the story (which is surprisingly funny), the author had a change of heart. The whole shebang is narrated by John Cleese from Monty Python. I'm at 245 and I'm gunning for your record.' It has a brown head with little white dots on it, and it has a white breast and belly with black streaks, he said. At least, that's what Sandy Komito, Al Levantin and Greg Miller would tell you. I mean, you never quite know until you get the data, but we had a good group of people, he said. Al graciously agreed to answer some questions via email, so, 10,000 Birds readers, you get to hear all about The Big Year straight from the birders mouth. Two other birders, Sandy Komito and Al Levantin also did Big Years the same year and also broke the 700-mark. Was the book accurate in the descriptions of your personal relationships and your financial state? In the books forward, Obmascik writes: Today I stroll in the park and I no longer see plain birds. Aspen Glen resident Sibel Tekce welcomed the birders to her home along the Roaring Fork River. PublishedDecember 29, 2021 at 5:50 PM MST. Sandy had 4 weeks on Attu in 1998. Al Levantin, a chemist and retired Fortune 500 executive from Aspen with "40 . Greg had the fortunate opportunity to be the Bird Consultant for the movie, The Big year, which was filmed in spring & summer of 2010. Sandy Komito, Al Levantin, and Greg Miller had the time of their lives racing to break the North American birding record, and I had the time of my life recounting their tale. Birds that had never been seen in quantities or single sightings of such species were being recorded, Obmascik said. Whether we should thank these guys or rap them on the knuckles remains eternally open to question. . Bald eagle. This leaning tree is their favorite tree because right underneath the hunting is the best.. 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