I just re-read my 2017 post and this could say almost the same thing. The big changes this year were the addition of a granddaughter, my husband retired, and we lost a couple of good friends. These life changes will be felt for many years to come.

This year I really upped my game at birding. I added to my life list and can id many more birds by sight and sound. I didn't do as much hiking and camping as in past years, but I am quite happy with that. I might do more B&B's next year. I want to focus more on art and creative projects, but I will have to see how 2018 proceeds.  I am sure to continue enjoying birds, insects, spiders, and all that nature will show me.

A recap of 2017

Stats:

•   250 volunteer hours (Citizen Science, Interpretation, Program Support )
•   304 bird species for the year,  276 in LA County - eBird rank 21 in LA County
•  over 2,500 observations, 750 species, 4,400 identifications logged in iNaturalist:  iNat stats

Classes/Conferences:

• Oak identification
• Botanical Illustration at Joshua Tree
• Colored Pencil Botanical Illustration

Some of the things I did:

• Presented at an information table on Nature Journaling at the Nature Center
• Co-led a Spider and invertebrate walk
• Gave a talk on common yard birds and creating habitat to the Long Beach Garden Club
• Licensed a few photos to the Museum of Natural History for use in an upcoming book
• Participated in an Inverebrate Bioblitz at Tejon Ranch with the Conservancy and the Lorquin Entomological Society
• Participated in a nighttime Mammal Survey at Seal Beach NWR
• Participated in monthly butterfly survey with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy
• Participated n several Black-lighting Events with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy
• Participated in monthly bird survey at Rancho Los Cerritos
• Participated in monthly bird survey at Los Cerritos Wetlands with Sea and Sage Audubon
• Served as secretary of the Lorquin Entomological Society
• Volunteered as a Trail Steward for El Dorado Nature Center

Some of my favorite places I went:

• Devon England
• Santa Susana Field Lab: It was quite fascinating and I never new it existed.
• Tule Elk Staute Natural Reserve
• Pelagic trips/Whale watching trips
• Joshua Tree NP always
• Morro Bay watching sea otters
• Piute Ponds
• Sycamore Canyon
• Deforest Park for warblers
• West Fork San Gabriel River for butterflies
• Chilao and Buckhorn Campground
• Antelope Valley for raptors
• St. Andrews Abbey for sapsuckers
• Oak Canyon
• El Dorado Park

Wishing you much happiness, peace, and nature in 2018!