WildBird's Birder of the Year prize trip: Costa Rica

In each issue of WildBird, we pose a question in the Lister's Forum and Birder's Back Yard departments. Readers who provide timely responses might see their replies in a future issue, and they might be named Forum Birder or Backyard Birder. Those birders receive certificates and prizes from sponsors, such as Swarovski Optik and Houghton Mifflin.

In the November/December issue, the six Forum Birders and six Backyard Birders become eligible for the Birder of the Year title and more prizes. WildBird readers vote to award the title and prizes.

This year's Forum Birders and Backyard Birders became eligible for Lang Elliott's "The Songs of Wild Birds," donated by Houghton Mifflin, as well as a Swarovski squall jacket. The 2007 Birder of the Year -- Cindy Beckman of Spring Valley, Ohio -- also received a Swarovski 8x32 EL and a guided trip to Costa Rica, courtesy of Swarovski Optik North America. She appeared in the March/April 2008 issue on page 6.

Cindy and her husband are in Costa Rica now, and I'll join them and Swarovski rep Clay Taylor on Wednesday morning in San Jose. We'll explore birding spots until Sunday.

If you'd like the chance to win optics and a five-day guided birding trip, then answer the questions in Lister's Forum and Birder's Back Yard in every issue. As little as 250 words could earn you the trip of a lifetime!


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