In spring 2011 I became a volunteer at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. My role there is to count all the shorebirds and wildfowl at least every 2 weeks.

I'm no stranger to counting birds; I've been counting them, for one job or another for 16 years. Razorbills in Pembrokeshire, Yellowhammers in Lancashire, Northern Wheatears at Dungeness, and Surf Scoters migrating south, past Cape May. I love counting birds; it's one of my favorite things to do. My brother-in-law calls me Rain Man!

You may be surprised to learn that Tallahassee is one of the best cities in the United States to watch birds. Really? Florida's state capital, in terms of number of species observed, consistently ranks in the top 10 during Cornell University's annual Great Backyard Bird Count. In 2012 we ranked 7^th in the nation with 148 species, true testament to the great birding opportunities our wonderful city provides to residents and visitors alike. So where can I go to watch all these amazing birds?