If you’ve ever had the privilege of birding with Ted Floyd, you know that in addition to being a supernaturally good birder, he’s a pretty chill guy. He doesn’t care much for chasing or target birds. He appreciates rarity as much as the next birder, but only when serendipitously encountered. Birding with Ted is relaxing, educational, and pretty much care-free.
Except on CBC day. All the rules change. Ted invokes his inner Pheidippides and the birding enterprise becomes rather… Darwinian. For the last two years, I’ve had the honor of completing the Pittsburgh CBC with Ted in his native Frick Park. This year, we won’t be birding Frick together, but for anyone lucky enough to spend a CBC with Ted, here are ten tips to help keep you alive.
1) Dislike food
Ted doesn’t eat on CBC day. Wastes time, slows you down. You were thinking about attending the CBC potluck lunch? Don’t make me laugh.
2) Put on your best walking shoes
Expect to cover 20+ miles. Conservative estimate.
3) Let him keep the tallies
As a mutual friend recalls, you will receive the following response if you attempt otherwise: “Your data can be a subset of my data.”
4) Expect to spend at least two hours standing in a marsh pishing to confirm a swamp sparrow after Ted hears an unusual chipnote
I’m pretty sure this happened both years.
5) Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you
Because you won’t see them for the next twelve hours.
Ted Floyd with a CBC survivor.
6) Get to bed as early as possible
The sun will still be an hour away by the time you’ve recorded your first three species.
7) If you have one of those water-retaining stillsuits from Dune, wear it
This is a great gift idea for birders now that I think of it.
8) Don’t expect to pop in the car and warm back up while you hit the next hotspot
It’s probably best to just forget cars exist actually. Or warmth.
9) Get pumped about chipnotes
You’ll be able to tell the difference between a winter wren and song sparrow chip by the end of the day. Probably by end of the sunrise, in fact.
10) Savor every single moment
Because birding the CBC with Ted will be one of the most wonderful experiences of your life.