When I stumbled upon this bird near Mt. Lassen, CA, I didn't exactly know what it was as I'd not seen one before. Though, being a bird nerd, my best guess was a grouse of some sort. So later that night I opened my Merlin app (an app used for bird identification and info) and searched for Grouse in the Explore tab. Sure enough, Sooty Grouse was the top pick based on location and I confirmed based on comparing other photos. I learned from Merlin that this bird only resides in the Pacific Northwest, including very few parts of the coast of Canada. It's also labeled as "rare" in the app, which is also pretty exciting, again, as a bird nerd.
In the birding community, this is known as a "lifer." That term simply means it's the first time experiencing a new bird species in person. Many people keep lists of how many lifers they've seen. It is a fun activity, but I don't keep up with my list anymore. Experiencing new species is exciting enough for me, especially if I get to photograph them. Even though I don't keep track, the act of finding something new is still reminiscent of a scavenger hunt, and I think that's why people enjoy birding so much. There is so much to see and discover out in nature, and I challenge you to try finding something new that you've never seen before. But always do it respectfully.
BAM☺︎
