It Cost Me Over $1000 To See This Bird...Was It Worth It?

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It Cost Me Over $1000 To See This Bird...Was It Worth It?

Рет қаралды 3,091

Күн бұрын

When a rare bird called a Gray Gull showed up the United States, a situation occurred where I spent a ridiculous amount of money to go see it. Do you think it was worth it?
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Пікірлер: 55

@Carlos00123 Ай бұрын

Am I the only one frustrated at the fact that it’s surrounded by locals who don’t care or know one bit about it 😩 Great find! I remember hearing about it last year!

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Haha, I think most of the locals just got so used to seeing it all the time that at that point it was nothing new.

@jame113_ Ай бұрын

I was setting up my scope about a month ago on a laughing gull that was hanging out here in Colorado and I see this kid walking up to it and was just thinking “nonononono don’t do it” He did it

@boomblade1019 Ай бұрын

I can’t imagine explaining spending this much on a gull to a non-birder 😭 Congrats! A great find for the US

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

I’m just waiting for the non-borders to find this vid, and seeing their comments haha

@frednorman1 Ай бұрын

I’m a birder, but I still think that’s nuts…

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

@@frednorman1 to each their own

@Taylor_the_birder Ай бұрын

@@frednorman1are you a birder bird watcher?

@aliefarchaeology7907 Ай бұрын

Congrats on finding the Gray Gull!!! Awesome! I made a similar trek on June 9, 2004. I made a round trip expedition in less than 1 day. I flew from Houston Tx. to Pharr Tx. to see a bird that was it's first record sighting ever in Texas (maybe US). It was a Black-Headed Nightingale Thrush. Pharr is located right on the US & Mexico border. I left Houston early in the morning and returned the same evening. It was definitely worth the costs of airfare and car rental. Keep up the great videos!

@ABirdersParadise Ай бұрын

That's insane! Glad you found it after all that.

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@spritelink Ай бұрын

Wonderful birding adventure and video! Congratulations, I am glad it all worked out so well.

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@laurablakesley8091 13 күн бұрын

We travel a lot for birding but usually not for a specific bird, always leaving other sites in the area that we would enjoy birding at anyway...EXCEPT! A few winters back, we once went after a smooth billed ani that had be spotted and seemed to be spending the winter at Little Talbot Island SP, just east of Jacksonville FL. We drove from Charlotte NC straight south to the park, about 6 hours. At the entrance booth the attendant, noticing us wearing our binos, asked "So, are you here to see our star attraction??". We enthusiastically answered "YES!" He then gave directions to the specific bathhouse he was hanging around. Driving there, parking, and then seeing a person with a scope on the dunes, we approached and asked "Is that our star?" YES Shortest time ever getting a lifer, less than 15 minutes after arrival at the park. Enjoyed watching him for awhile, then looked at each other and decided to head home, no need to spend the night there. Had dinner, drove north over the GA border til we got tired and stayed there overnight, birding a little on the way back home. Worth it!!! Now for that grooved bill....

@Jps3bs Ай бұрын

Way to go Derek. When you pursue your passion and get rewarded it is DEFINITELY WORTH IT. BIG CONGRATS 🎉🥳

@cathco9 Ай бұрын

Wow! I can't stop smiling. So happy for you. 🎉🎉🎉

@toddleech1055 Ай бұрын

Congratulations on your grey gull !! i flew to gilbert arizona not for a specific bird but to bird in general at Riparian Preserve also so worth the trip.

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

@@toddleech1055 thanks, Todd! AZ is the best

@user-qw5pm6lr9d Ай бұрын

That's not too far from where I live. Congrats on the gray gull! Last time I was at the beach I saw some great shearwaters.

@ZZ-rz4hm Ай бұрын

Most I've ever spent on a twitch was probably driving 4 hours one way to the small billed elaenia in Chicago a few years ago. Honestly can't even imagine spending $1k on a single bird, even a lifer. For that money, you could easily fly to and spend a week in Costa Rica and see >250 species, but to each their own

@timjozwiak2293 Ай бұрын

What a wild ride! So glad that all worked out for you. Well worth the trip

@douglaswetzel3221 Ай бұрын

Great video Derek. You got a lot done that's for sure!

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Definitely maximized the time!

@richarddial1188 Ай бұрын

So happy for you! Is that your favorite lifer so far?

@sunbeamfabricart Ай бұрын

Bird Paparazzi! Great story, thanks so much!

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

📸

@brighteyedbirding Ай бұрын

Been waiting for this video ever since you mentioned it a few weeks ago on the podcast. Congrats and awesome adventure/video!

@falcoperegrinus82 Ай бұрын

I prefer the challenge of keeping it local with patch and county birding and always felt it more rewarding. New county birds just hit different to me. I also like to minimize my carbon footprint when possible and do all my county birding by bike/on foot. That said, I still do enjoy an international trip here and there.

@Florafauneando Ай бұрын

I have made many trips to see birds that have been expensive, as to see one species I have driven 500 or 600 to the wintering area of the Ruddy-headed Goose, a threatened species, which luckily I saw and it was a great joy, I can imagine yours when you see the Gay Gull; I never saw this one in particular, I would have to go to Chile, although it would be more than 1000 kilometers of travel and a significant expense for me, anyway you saw the gull and you were also with your girlfriend! You can't complain, haha.

@somsvid Ай бұрын

A Great sucessful twitch. My best was on last day birding hol in Cornwall & learnt of Siberian Thrush on Isles of Scilly. Booked 1st flight for next morning, Arriving at airport learnt also a Whites's Thrush there. A 20-min flight, then minibus to the quay and an inter-island boat trip to St Agnes island where a low-tide hike across the 1/4 mile connecting sandbar to island of Gugh where soon had good looks at the Sibe Thrush,. Then back across the sandbar & hike to middle of St Agnes where after 1/2 hr wait the White's Thrush showed well. Enjoy your videos, keep 'em coming!

@dicksonsmith2702 Ай бұрын

Great find! As far as if you think it's was worth it, that is definitely your call and yours alone. I drove to from Northern Utah, where I live to Apollo Park near Lancaster, CA. which was roughly a 12 hour, 735 mile trip last year, 2023, to go find a Tundra Bean Goose. Found the goose and it too was not afraid of people and was mixed in with a bunch of tame Mallard ducks and Canada geese. I was able to get lots of great photos.

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Nice! We had our own Tundra Bean Goode adventure in Iowa as well

@WalkingEng Ай бұрын

Got to follow your dreams. This was great, congratulations on the new lifer!,

@m.sharon Ай бұрын

Great video and looked like a great trip! I drove about 2 hours once to see hummingbirds at a Sanctuary before it had to close down. But hope to do birding trips in the future.

@tvalkyrie Ай бұрын

Like my Dad used to say, "Whatever makes you happy!" 🤣 I would never do this for one bird, especially for a gull...just not into gulls. Thanks for a Great video & Congratulations on your quest for a Gray Gull ! 🎉 You're a true Birder ! 💕

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

@@tvalkyrie haha not the gull disrespect 😂

@markshen3280 Ай бұрын

According to GOOGLE, the Grey Gull, also known as garuma gull is native to South America.

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

That is true

@headtrauma_1 Ай бұрын

Congratulations on Gray Gull! On an unrelated note, I was wondering if you guys ever planned on birding in Canada? I’ve always been curious what you guys would find exciting :)

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Yeah we’d love to! Point Pelee is definitely on our list to check out but I’m sure there are a ton of cool spots up there.

@lindap9079 Ай бұрын

I live near Seattle and have only chases birds in western WA.

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Fair

@user-tr1hs6fd6w Ай бұрын

100% worth it wish I had the money

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Definitely would not have done if it we didn’t have the channel as well

@TiphanieBirdingNW Ай бұрын

❤

@aurora571000 Ай бұрын

I think the fact that you could visit the girlfriend also on the trip played into your decision.😎

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

It was a big plus! 😂 “oh, no, there’s a bird nearby…guess I have to visit 👀”

@michaelayers925 Ай бұрын

Come on... You could have at least taken Ryan with you! 😅

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Haha, I’m pretty sure he was working that week 😂

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Pro tip: don’t get a job -Ryan

@Chris_Wolfgram Ай бұрын

If it was worth it to you, it was worth it 🙂👍 I might spend $1000 to see / get good shots of a Great Grey Owl 🙂 This Fall I might spend about $500 to see / get great shots of all 3 species of Rosy Finch 🙂

@BadgerlandBirding Ай бұрын

Should be great trips!