Nature Blog Network

Last month on 10,000 Birds, I reviewed Life List: A Woman’s Quest for the World’s Most Amazing Birds, the biography of Phoebe Snetsinger written by Olivia Gentile. I loved the book and also loved that the author and her publisher were interested in giving away some books to our readers. You will probably also love the book along with the fact that the author and her publisher were very keen on including the Nature Blog Network in the altruistic action!

We’ve come up with some contest ideas to honor Phoebe Snetsinger, one of the most remarkable and successful bird chasers who’s ever lived.  You’ll find three different ways to earn a shot at one of four different free copies of Life List. The first two are explained in detail over at 10,000 Birds.  Here’s the third…

See a life bird for Phoebe!
At the time of her death, Phoebe Snetsinger boasted a life list of 8,674 birds. That’s a lot of birds, folks! One doesn’t simply fall into numbers of that magnitude. No, to see such a tremendous percentage of the world’s extant avifauna, one has to work at it bird by beautiful bird.

You may not be a bird watcher but if you’re reading this, chances are you’re a nature lover with an appreciation for exploration and discovery. If you’d like to win a free copy of Ms. Snetsinger’s fascinating biography, we ask only that you walk a mile or so in her shoes and go see a new bird species. The bird need not be new to Phoebe Snetsinger; most of us would need to travel to the figurative ends of the earth to accomplish that. No, the bird simply has to be new to you.

Set out in pursuit of a new bird, then blog about your adventure. It doesn’t even matter whether you actually see a new bird. What matters is the attempt and entertaining anecdote about your exertions. Send your link to me (mike AT 10000birds DOT com) by Monday, July 20. Later that week, I’ll publish all the links at once and announce the winner, who will be selected by the NBN team with the possible participation of the author of this book herself, Olivia Gentile. At the same time, I’ll announce the recipients of the other three books at 10,000 Birds.

Yes, I know that mid-July is a tough time to find a life bird in the Northern Hemisphere. Migration would definitely be better. But with two weekends between now and the deadline, I suspect most of you will be able to come up with at least one species that has thus far eluded you. Non-birders may feel they have an easier time but remember that the winner will be chosen based on the entertainment value of the effort, not by any feature of the target bird.

So to recap, add a new bird to your life list by July 20 or at least give it the old college try. Blog about the attempt and send me the link. That puts you in the running for one free book. Check out 10,000 Birds for other ways to win. For inspiration, visit Olivia Gentile’s fantastic site.

Please note the following disclaimers: these giveaways are open to everyone and anyone with the exception of the 10,000 Birds and Nature Blog Network teams and their immediate families; these giveaways have no cash value; we are the final arbiters of who receives each book; and all local laws, rules, and restrictions apply.