Competitive birding

Last night I watched The Big Year, a movie that revolved around the world of competitive bird watching, or birding. Given that the movie starred Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson, you might have expected a zany comedy. It had funny parts, and the lengths characters would go to spot a bird led to some funny scenes.

All three men are birders who have decided to do a "big year" in which they try to spot as many birds in the United States as possible during the calendar year. On their journeys to find birds, the characters also have to find out about themselves, what is important in their lives, and what they are willing to sacrifice to be the best birder in the world.

I enjoyed the film, much more than I think I expected to. It was well worth watching.