During our Birding Therapy Week posts, FatherSonBirding achieved the milestone of receiving our ten thousandth view! To celebrate, we’d first like to thank all of you who have been following our adventures and other stories about our favorite non-human animals (including our dog, Lola,). We know that everyone has an avalanche of blogs, news, posts—and yes, even books and magazines—competing for reading attention, and we greatly appreciate each and every one of you. It also, though, seems like a good time to reflect and re-evaluate.
It seems hard to believe, but we launched FatherSonBirding more than three years ago with our post A Quest for Snowy Owls. Since that time, we’ve posted 81 times, and garnered 65 subscribers (there were actually more, but we lost several dozen while getting hacked by suspected Russian provocateurs). On average, about a hundred people read each post. Which is all good, but like a certain ex-president’s approval ratings, our numbers don’t really budge much. On top of that, Braden will be heading off to the University of Maine soon to begin his college career, highlighting the bittersweet fact that we will not have nearly as many birding adventures together as we’ve enjoyed the past few years.
That said, we could shift the focus of the blog from our birding exploits to bird conservation, bird education, or something else. In fact, if you are reading this, we ask that you send us your thoughts on where we might take this forum going forward—including just chugging along as we are, posting occasionally about something that strikes our fancy. Honestly, I (Sneed) have so many mixed feelings about social media that we will probably never do what it takes to build a huge following. I mean, we probably should have launched a blog about watching MineCraft videos or breaking plates over our heads or cooking Julia Childs’ recipes, but we didn’t. Still, we have enjoyed sharing with you and would love it if you’d take time to send us your honest thoughts about what might come next.
As you ponder those, we’d like to leave you with some photos from our best Montana Big Day ever last week, during which we drove 500 miles and found 114 species—the first time we’d ever seen more than 100 different birds in a day in Montana. Ironically, our Bird of the Day was one that we didn’t even see—an American Bittern that we heard calling in the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge! We’d gone looking for AMBIs at least seven or eight times the past two seasons, so it was a real thrill to finally hear one. We hope that you all are having great birding adventures this spring, whether it’s watching your backyard feeder or planning your own Big Day, Big Week, or Big Life!
—Sneed and Braden
Wow–what a hugely rewarding period in both your lives–but so hard to go on to further and different adventures. Of course, you will now have an excuse to head for the Far East (of U.S.) often in different seasons to connect with your birding partner!
I would love to see you continuing your entrepreneur adventures by sharing your wisdom on family birding through teaching online. Maybe you could put a more specific question out to your followers about what they might like to experience with you–leading birding adventures in key places/seasons? Teaching birding tips for families? Writing more books featuring interesting birds? Just a few thoughts from a friend/colleague who knows what a great and fun communicator you are!
Thank you, Dorothy! Lots of good things to think about over the summer. The brain is churning 🙂
Wow:) I have watery eyes reading over your post today. It has been such a pleasure being a minor part in your 10,000 views!–I have enjoyed your father/son stories so much and can’t believe how fast time has gone by and now i’t’s changing into something else. I look forward to knowing more about what Braden has chosen for his future in Maine He is a wonderful person and such a joy to be around!!!
As far as the blog– obviously it should continue. Are you planning on more bird outings on your own or maybe with a new partner–father/daughter? Could it be guest birders that add to your stories. I’m with Dorothy–you are a great communicator and have a fun sense of humor. I look forward to see what you do now:)
Thanks so much for your positivity, Marie! I really appreciate that you’ve followed us and our adventures, and will definitely take your thoughts to heart when deciding what to do next :)))) Meanwhile, bird on in Oregon!!!
Beautiful photographs (and text)
Thank you Bill!
Thanks for sharing this episode in your odyssey. Best of luck in the Pine Tree State, Braden. He will be an impossible partner to replace, Sneed.
So true! Thanks, George!
Sneed & Braden,
I have truly enjoyed following your FSB blog over these last three years, and hope the ride continues. I love the stories, the thrill and disappointment of the pursuit, the photos, and even the snarky comments from a certain subset of your followers. (I’m looking at YOU, Fat-bellied Saison Sucker!) I was always happy when I saw notification of a new post show up in my email. I knew I’d have a good read to look forward to. And I usually learned something.
I sure hope the blog continues, perhaps in a somewhat evolved form, wherever your ideas take you. I hope posts about birding outings can continue. I’m sure Braden will be super busy with school and fun stuff, but perhaps he could post occasionally from Maine. That would lend the blog a two-state dynamic and bring in more species and landscapes to share and write about. I like Marie’s idea of occasional posts from guest birders. That would certainly add variety and perhaps increase views. I like the idea of reading posts about bird education and conservation and any other topics you are moved to write about. Variety, variety, variety!
Oh, and congratulations on your Montana Big Day. 114 species is quite an achievement. A Century Run! (I just learned that term from reading The Big Year.)
Regardless of how the blog evolves, keep writing and bird on, Dudes.
We really appreciate the support, Roger! That FBSS is a trouble-maker for sure, but I’m guessing the blog will continue in one form or another 🙂