Dec 31 (Day 365) - Final thoughts and a big huge 'Thank You'

In August of 2012, I joked with Sonia that someone should try to do a nationwide big year on a bicycle. Over the course of the next 8 months, I made the decision that this someone should be me. In April of 2013 I quite my job and began preparing myself physically, mentally, and logistically for what I figured, if I could actually pull it off, would be the adventure of a lifetime. I hoped the adventure would hone my birding skills, introduce me to new people, facilitate exploration of the country, and provide an opportunity for personal challenge and reflection. When I initially articulated my plan to others, it was met mostly with skepticism and disbelief. My parents, most notable my mom, were less than thrilled. They simply did not understand why I would leave a stable position and promising future in academic science to pursue something infinitely less certain. I think some of my friends understood, but I am still not sure any of them really grasped the possibilities of what the adventure could do for me both personally and professionally. Luckily, the person whose opinion and input mattered most, Sonia, was able to see the potential in me and in the project. Irrespective of my relationship with her, she understood that I needed to do this for myself. We both realized that I would regret terribly the chance realized but ultimately let go should I chose to ignore my desire to do exactly what I did this year. For her support and love I will always be thankful. I am not sure I would have been able to make it through the year without her.

Beast and Beauty

Ice Cream!

The best metaphor that I can use to describe my experience this year is a ruler. At different points in our lives we use different rulers to measure success and development. Through the scholastic years, the measure is academic grades. To most adolescents and collegiates, social status is a high priority. Sports, at all levels, rely on accumulated statistics and earned championships to compare individuals and teams. As adulthood arrives, job status, monies earned, and successes of one's children replace the measures of earlier times. As a research scientist, my successes were measured by which journals would publish my results. The formula was extremely straightforward - and painfully simple. As I looked around my academic life, and beyond it to the world at large,  I wondered why we are constantly willing to use these already existing and formulaic rulers to measure our successes, and, in extreme cases, our own happiness? How is it that so many people can use so few rulers? Biking for Birds provided the incredibly unique opportunity for me to define and to become my own ruler. Yes, the species count is certainly one way to measure this year, but the personal triumphs I experienced are immeasurable. No other ruler beyond my own can ever hope to measure or define what I experienced this year - I would't have it any other way. 

All that being said, there is simply no way that this year could not have happened without the support of hundreds if not thousands of people around this country and world beyond it. I had to rely on the incredible generosity of the people who housed me, fed me, and helped me find birds. Large numbers of people gave financially of themselves to aid my fundraising efforts (Donations are still welcome), and for this I am also grateful. My support network extended deep into the online realm as blog readers were never short to encourage me and offer helpful suggestions as I faced new challenges. I tried my hardest to make this project one for the entire birding, cycling, and environmental communities. I have thought a lot about this, and I think the aspect of the project that I will miss the most is the blog. It provided the portal through which I was able to broadcast my experiences and share my thoughts. I spent a huge proportion of this year physically alone. This blog was my way of connecting to the rest of the world, even if in only a distant or transient way. I plan to keep this blog going into the foreseeable future, so please check back regularly as we enter 2015. There will be lots of "Best of......" posts coming in the next few days! I may at some point shut this blog down and start a more general birding/photography blog. I will be sure to let everyone know when/if I do this. I have a great base of readers, and I would love to carry all of you with me into my future endeavors - blogs and books alike. 

Thank you one last time for your support, your time, your help, and your encouragement. Knowing that others enjoyed this project as much as I did is just one of our collective successes this year. 

OK, that's it for right now. Day 1 of the rest of my life calls............

365 days

617 species

17,830 miles

1 immeasurable adventure