The Central Coast lost one of its top birders last year with the passing of Brad Schram. Not only was Brad a great birder, but he was always friendly and generous with his time and expertise. Brad was a long-term Santa Barbara resident before moving up to San Luis Obispo upon his retirement. You could always tell when Brad was down visiting because his license plate was distinctive: BIRDSLO.
Only recently did I realize the double meaning behind his message: not only did it identify him as part of a birding community, but it also expressed an attitude. Birding shouldn’t be about racing from place to place seeing how many birds you can list, but it should be about slowing down, being in the moment, aware of the sights and sounds all around you. By embracing this philosophy, you are far more likely to observe new bird behaviors and be in tune to the sounds birds make. By standing still and quiet, birds will get used to your presence and will return to their normal activities, sometimes coming close to you. This heightened awareness can also help you find unusual species.
On this year’s Santa Barbara Christmas Bird Count, I will attempt to emulate Brad’s example. The count is always a highlight of my birding year. I have a whole day set aside just for being with the birds, and there are no other obligations to make me hurry. I hope to make BIRDSLO one of my New Year’s resolutions.