ABA Blog in review: January 2012

2012 opened with a bang here at the ABA blog, and we're currently wrapping up our best month over by a significant margin.  Looking back at the posts this month, it's easy to see why.  So many contributors shared amazing content in January, and I'm certainly thrilled to be involved in this great ABA initiative.

But enough about there, here's a quick roundup of what you may have missed:

First, we welcomed new contributor John Puschock, who will be taking over the ABA rarity beat.  His first contributions, on Florida's Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Nebraska's Common Crane offer exactly what birders interested in seeing those ABA-area vagrants need to know to get the bird. 

ABA board member Lynn Barber wants to know if you're Big Yearing in 2012, and starts thinking about a Big Year in her new home state of South Dakota. 

North American Birds editor Ned Brinkley shares the latest news on the provenance of the Tennessee Hooded Crane, a potential first, or second, ABA record. 

New contributor James Currie plugs his newest project, a raptor program on the National Geographic channel!

Laura Erickson got a hold of The Big Year DVD and says it's better than the movie that made it to theaters. 

The provocative and thought-provoking Ted Eubanks considers the irruption of Snowy Owls from the owl's point of view, as well as musing on the conservation of a 'large-billed' Savannah Sparrow and offers a challenge to do good for environment above all.

Paul Hess looks at the taxonomic proposals on the table of the AOU, and how they apply to ABA-area birders.

Bill Schmoker reviews a new vibration-damping scope from Nikon, and shares the news that the Sibley guide is now available in a couple new electronic mediums. 

Noah Strycker recounts a fun Christmas Bird Count anecdote from the famous Coos Bay, Oregon, Count. 

eBird guru Brian Sullivan gives some thought to the phases of a birder's career arc, and the evolution of their skills.

Rick Wright reviews a couple new bird books, Dunlap's In the Field, Among the Feathered and the newest from Steve N.G. Howell on North America's tubenoses.  

Onward to February!  Thanks so much for reading and commenting!