BIRDING WITHOUT BIRDERS: ABC welcomes Noah Strycker

4-12-17 – Noah made one long trip to get his 6042 birds in 41 countries.

Noah Strycker struck gold on April 12, 2017, when he visited Tacoma and was treated by ABC like the VIP he has become.  Getting Noah for ABC was a dream come true for Kay Pullen who had been plotting ever since she got ABC to read Noah Strycker’s book, The Thing with Feathers, a couple of years ago.  The event mushroomed into the biggest event ABC has held to this date, necessitating a change in venue to the Rotunda at UPS, finagled by Peter Wimberger, director of the Slater Museum, and Kay’s fellow conspirator for this event.  Fellow sponsor, Tahoma Audubon, managed collection of fees and checked people in. There were over 150 people in the rotunda when Noah arrived after meeting earlier with UPS students and ABC principals.

Noah Strycker’s appearance filled the UPS Rotunda

4-12-17 – Tahoma Audubon & UPS/Slater Museum selling souvenirs & Noah’s books

We already knew Noah had a talent for birding and a talent for writing, but tonight we found that he has a talent for holding a large audience in the palm of his hand! With his expertly-curated collection of photos, the Power-Point presentation hummed along in harmony with Noah’s story, which started before he was even born and proceeded into his unknown, but brilliant, future. After shattering the previous record by approximately 1500 species, Noah finished 2015 with 6042 birds!! He wore the crown for a year, but challenger Arjan Dwarshuis of the Netherlands broke it in 2016, and the two have become friends with many stories to compare.

4-12-17 – Kay Pullen & Peter Wimberger introduce Noah Strycker

4-12-17 – Noah Strycker has our attention!

Noah wrote a daily blog during his Year, which many of us followed, and which is being expanded into his upcoming book, Birding Without Borders: An Obsession, a Quest, and the Biggest Year in the World, due this fall. While you’re waiting for the book, you can still read his blog: http://www.audubon.org/features/birding-without-borders

4-12-17 – Noah is mobbed after his talk (photo/Art Wang)

4-12-17 – The people who made it happen: Kay Pullen, Ken Brown, Our star – Noah Strycker, & Ed Pullen

4-12-17 – Jody Hess, Kay Pullen, Laurel Parshall below, Noah Strycker, Diane Yorgason-Quinn, Vera Cragin, Faye McAdams Hands

Noah made it clear that he couldn’t have done this year alone.  He used native guides as much as possible and as a result had as many people stories as he did bird stories.  We predict much to come from this young man and are very happy to have become some of his people.