Photo by Owen Reiser, YouTube

**September President’s Notes: Birding Curious?Watch Listers: A Glimpse into Extreme Birdwatching**

by Matt McCoy

Many of us consider ourselves passionate about birds. But when does a passion become an obsession—something that completely fills one’s thoughts in a way that isn’t exactly normal? For neophyte birding brothers Owen and Quinten Reiser, that moment arrived when they decided to embark on a Big Year. Inspired by a Golden Guide to Birds of North America they found in their parents’ house, their odyssey delightfully unfolds in Listers (and sorry, if you thought this was the one place you could escape a Homer reference this year, you’re mistaken). If you haven’t already seen Listers—or want to see it again—please join us for a September 10 screening at the Dungeness River Nature Center.

Owen and Quinten’s voyage of discovery offers a kind‑hearted look at the birding world, focusing on extreme birders and how they maximize their annual lists. Easy birding‑centric targets like birder fashion and bird names are handled with delightful irreverence. Thornier topics such as birding ethics (when is it appropriate to use electronic calls?) and carbon footprints (what does all that required travel do to—or for—the birds we love?) are thoughtfully explored through diverse viewpoints, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions about where they might land on an issue.

They explore the camaraderie and community that help make birding enjoyable. You’ll meet the McQuades of Florida (currently topping the 2026 U.S. eBird species list) and Washington’s Liam Hutcheson (fourth in Washington state), among others, and gain insight into what drives their obsession to see as many species as possible in a year. You’ll also meet folks like Hannah Toutonghi (a wildlife technician and birder) and Robert Carter, who offer more nuanced, thoughtful perspectives on birding. Along the way, the Reisers discover all the different ways we stay connected and informed—from the almost‑extinct rare bird alert lists to the ubiquitous eBird. There are characters at every hotspot to help our intrepid hosts. We’re an eccentric lot, but we’re our eccentric lot.

The cinematography is a mix of Blair Witch Project meets National Geographic: cellphone vignettes documenting their adventures and interviews, interspersed with professional wildlife photographer Owen’s stunning bird videos. The gritty reality of what it takes to bird up to 365 days straight is woven throughout. On their shoestring budget, that means endless beans and rice, camping anywhere in their Kia Sedona, and facing mosquito hordes, driving rain, impenetrable vegetation, bitter cold, or sweltering heat. (For a fascinating global Big Year grind in book form, try Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker.)

Personally, I’ve flirted with listing and the competitive side of birding. There was the two‑hour drive to see a Siberian Accentor (and for residents putting up with binocular‑wielding birders, a term other than obsessive may have come to mind). For several years, I drove 270 miles over 17 hours each time I did a Big Day. On Christmas Bird Counts, my fervent hope was to be on the team with the highest species count. (That was easier back in the day when five people in three groups conducted the Bruneau CBC. I gave that dream up when accomplished birders became regular participants.)

But listing never became an obsession for me. What struck me most about Owen and Quinten’s immersion in extreme birding was the deep appreciation of nature they ultimately discovered—the joy of simply watching birds be birds. I feel fortunate to have known that joy for a long time.