Meet the Core Team
There are approximately 10,000 bird species on this beautiful planet. Initially, this site was designed to chronicle the Core Team’s ongoing effort to see and enjoy every one of them. Back in August 2003, we were new to birding and eager to learn all about it. Now, we’re somewhat more knowledgeable on the subject but still have a long way to go!
The Core Team is led by the dynamic adventuring duo of Mike and Sara. This married couple has an unquenchable thirst for travel and an implacable desire to learn more about the natural world. The Core Team is currently based out of the Bronx. Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but what he really aspires to be is a naturalist. Sara strives to promote kindness and decency in a tough world. She is of the opinion, unpopular in some birding circles, that if you’ve seen one sandpiper, you’ve seen them all!
Mason (3/17/04) and Ivy (5/30/06) are the heart and soul of the Core Team. Mason is already wise in the ways of nature, despite his youth. He was able to pick out chickadees and crows by voice before he was two years old, about three decades less than his parents needed! For some reason, though, he doesn’t like Blue Jays and doesn’t mind telling you so.
Our assorted birding gear includes the Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera, Konica Minolta Activa 10×50 Waterproof Binoculars, and tons of books and field guides.
You’ll find our family’s latest adventures as well as all the pics of Mason and Ivy here. If, for some absurd reason, you’d like to see the Core Team life list, here it is.
Besides founding 10,000 Birds and I and the Bird, Mike has also created a number of other outstanding sites and resources such as Nature Blog Network and Best Birding Tours.
[...] with more lists of birds I’ll just give you a couple of the highlights of my birding until Mike and Carrie met me at eight. I watched a Ruby-throated Hummingbird chase a Gray Catbird from a bush [...]
Hello Mike, Sara and Family! Lovely website; thank you for this public service. My husband and I retired one year ago from our government jobs as biologists, and now live in Atenas, Costa Rica. We are helping out some rainforest/macaw conservation organizations here in Costa Rica. One of our new projects for the Rainforest Biodiversity Group is to initiate a Christmas Bird Count in the Sarapiqui region of Costa Rica, home to the endangered Great Green Macaw and many other species. Have you any suggestions for how to entice and advertise for U.S. birders to come down and participate? Any advice appreciated……..
Lorna and Darrell Smith
Atenas, Costa Rica
[...] Ocean City By Mike • July 15, 2008 • No comments yet This past weekend, the Core Team - Sara, Mason, Ivy, and I - met with my siblings and aunts in Ocean City, Maryland to celebrate my [...]