Shanin Abreu interviews Joe Phipps, who set a new McLean County Big Year Record in 2016 with 244 species.
Shanin: Tell us a little about yourself, Joe.
Joe: I am originally from East Peoria, IL, and I currently live in Bloomington with my incredibly supportive wife, Sam. I work for Vallen as a Storeroom Manager at a DuPont site. My interests outside of birding include photography, hiking, insects and spiders, and reptiles.
Shanin: When and why did you first become interested in birding and what has kept you interested?
Joe: I’ve always had a love for animals and nature as far back as I can remember, but I didn’t develop my fascination with birds and birding until I was a freshman at Illinois Wesleyan University. At IWU, I made friends who were also nature enthusiasts, and we took our first birding trip after reading an article about the large flocks of American White Pelicans at Lake Springfield. We borrowed binoculars and a field guide from the school, and things have never been the same since then.
Shanin: What has been your favorite birding moment or your favorite bird? Not necessarily rare, just meaningful…
Joe: This year has been filled with amazing birds and incredible experiences. One of my favorite birds to see this year was the Le Conte’s Sparrow. Not only was this bird a lifer for me, but it was very close and cooperative and I saw it with several of my favorite birders. It was definitely not an Ammodramus encounter that most birders get to experience.
Shanin: What is your favorite field guide? Favorite binoculars?
Joe: The Sibley Guide has been my go-to field guide from my first birding trip until today. Like many new-age birders, my Sibley guide is used as a reference in the field, but I most often find myself looking for the answers to tough IDs on list serves, blogs, and in birding groups.
I can’t say that I have a favorite pair of binoculars. I have had the Eagle Optics Rangers since I upgraded from my parent’s old Bushnells in 2011, and they have suited me in my endeavors. Like most birders, I dream of one day having a pair of Zeiss or Swarovski binoculars, but until then I will be content with whatever lets me see the birds.
Shanin: Where is your favorite place to bird in Illinois? In McLean Co?
Joe: Emiquon is easily my favorite place to bird in the state of Illinois. I love ducks, waders, and shorebirds, and Emiquon provides all of that and more. A good number of my life birds have come from Emiquon.
It’s harder to pick a favorite place in McLean County. For a long time I would have told you that Ewing Park was my favorite place because it offers so much with so little effort, but after this big year both Evergreen Lake and Schroeder Nature Sanctuary have become two of my favorite places to be. Both offer a diverse range of habitats, and are nice to be in even without the birds.
Shanin: Do you have anyone in the birding or environmental community that you consider to be your mentor? Why?
Joe: I have a couple of mentors that have played major roles in my development as a naturalist and a birder. When I was at Illinois Wesleyan, Dr. Given Harper took me out on some of my first birding trips. He taught me that birding is more than just seeing birds. It’s also about appreciating, understanding, and protecting them.
Benjamin Murphy has been my biggest mentor and motivator through my birding career as a county and state lister. We have spent countless hours together chasing rarities, checking local hot spots, and working on our buddy list. Ben has taught me most of what I know about the county, and without him I wouldn’t have been successful this year.
Shanin: What bird have you not seen this year that you feel you really should have seen?
Joe: I spent many hours driving around the county looking for Short-eared Owl and Northern Shrike both last winter and this one. There is still some time to look, but those two birds have taken so much of my time that I thought I would have one by now.
Shanin: What were some unexpected hurdles of your county big year?
Joe: Getting married in the middle of my big year was no small hurdle. I could no longer be gone all day, every day, with no consequences. It also came as a shock to me when I reached the point where birding stopped being fun and became a chore. It took some time to find a balance between birding because I enjoy it, and birding because I might add another species.
Shanin: What advice do you have for a birder attempting a county big year?
Joe: I would recommend that anyone interested in taking on a big year make sure that they have plenty of time to spend birding, a good understanding of what they need to be looking for and when, and a network of birders they can rely on. I think having any one of these things will lead to a productive year, but I wouldn’t have made it this far without all three.
Shanin: Do you have a favorite bird/birding quote or saying?
Joe: I have spent far too long thinking about an answer to this question, but if I had to quote any bird: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” – Barred Owl