I found this fair-condition Advanced Reading Edition softcover at a local Savers thrift shop. It's about three men who try to break the record for one full year's worth of bird sightings, wherever it takes them.

While I enjoyed the actual bird-sighting bits, I admit I found the levels of competitiveness and, in some cases, possible chicanery, to be really annoying. Even those who were only claiming legitimate sightings were spending ridiculous amounts of money and time just to rack up another number. But if the personalities of the people were sometimes obnoxious or pathetic, I found the history of bird-watching in general and of some species in particular quite entertaining.

Birds aren't the only things spotted, as it happens - one guy found himself within twenty feet of a mountain lion on his way back from spotting some Colima warblers, and when he told a ranger about it the ranger said "You're lucky!" noting how rare such sightings were. The birder was expecting an emergency response, or at least a "danger, mountain lion" sign-posting, not a pat on the back... And all I could think was "You're so lucky! I wish *I* could see a mountain lion in the wild..."

I left this book on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the square at around 12:30 on this chilly day. Hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2017 Heads Shoulders Knees Toes release challenge, for the embedded "ear" in the title. ***

*** Released for the 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count release challenge; see the GBBC page here. ***