Way back when, the first Blog Carnival I had ever heard of was the (now sadly defunct) Tangled Bank. I submitted a post to one Tangled Bank edition, but it was the second Blog Carnival that I submitted a post to that really captured my imagination. The inaugural edition of I and the Bird, took place back in July 2005, a short time after I started out on this journey. My submission, Qarsauq, was about a bird that will soon return here, whose call from high overhead I anxiously await.
I didn't miss making a submission for the longest time, perhaps a year, and still make an effort to send one off regularly. I even hosted a couple of editions, #12 and #71, taxing my brain to come up with a theme that would be original and entertaining, and I think succeeding at least once. But regardless of whether I submit or host I make a point of visiting each and every edition as it comes out.
And they keep coming out, for this edition is the 100th one to be published on the web. And that says buckets about the carnival, in a world that seen the start and demise of hundreds of carnivals in that time. That also says buckets about the force behind it, the team at 10,000 birds (although I think the bulk of the credit goes to Mike, the originator, and I don't imagine you'll hear much disagreement from Charlie and Corey). It is the longest running natural history carnival out there and well worth your visiting.
Now in some ways I'm preaching to the choir, that those of you who have kept reading to this point, already visit, and I also know that some of my readers eyes start to glaze over at my first mention of "bird" in a post. But consider this, there are some eighty posts in this edition, with some stellar writing, and some stellar photos of incredibly beautiful birds from around the world, many of which I had no idea existed until now. I have found, throughout the years, very good blogs that I visit regularly, including blogs who only occasionally touch on the topic of birds. It is well worth your time to check out this edition (it will take awhile to wade through, eighty posts is a lot of posts) and subsequent editions.
Happy Hundredth I and the Bird. I look forward to the next hundred editions.
Comments
3 responses
It is a pretty remarkable achievement that IATB is not ony still going, but is still important and so full of great writing. Especially when, as you say, it’s part of a medium that has seen many comings and goings over the relatively few years that blogging has been in existence.
And no argument from me whatsoever, Clare, about who runs the show – it’s Mike who originated IATB and he’s still the leader of the gang!
Cheers, and here’s to the next 100 Editions!
Thanks so much, Clare… for reminding me you’re about due to host again!
Cheers indeed Charlie,
I think there were 59 issues between my hosting jobs which puts me due in around issue 130. That might be enough time to come up with something worthy Mike.