Is the movie The Big Year (2011) based on a true story?

Yes, The Big Year (2011) is based on a non-fiction book of the same name by Mark Obmascik, which chronicles the true story of three birders competing to see the most species of birds in North America within a calendar year.

What is the true story behind the movie The Big Year (2011)?

The Big Year is a movie about competitive birdwatching, based on the book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik. The story is based on the real-life experiences of three birders who set out to see as many bird species as possible in one year.

In 1998, a group of birders competed in what was then known as the North American Big Year. The goal was to see or hear as many bird species as possible in a single year. The three birders featured in the movie are based on real-life birders who participated in the event.

The first birder, Stu Preissler, is based on a real person named Sandy Komito. Komito holds the record for the highest bird count in a single year, having seen or heard 745 bird species in 1998.

The second birder, Brad Harris, is based on a birder named Al Levantin. Levantin was a successful businessman who left his career to pursue his passion for birding. He also set a personal record during the North American Big Year, seeing or hearing 716 bird species.

The third birder, Kenny Bostick, is based on a combination of several birders who competed in the North American Big Year. The character is portrayed as a ruthless competitor, willing to do whatever it takes to win.

While the movie takes some creative liberties with the actual events of the North American Big Year, it is generally faithful to the spirit of the competition and the passion that drives birders to pursue their hobby.

Are there any books about the true story behind the movie The Big Year (2011)?

Yes, there is a book that inspired the movie The Big Year (2011) - “The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession” by Mark Obmascik. The book follows the true story of three birders who each set out on a quest to see as many bird species as possible in one year, competing in what is known as a “big year.” The book provides a more detailed and in-depth look at the birding community and the intense competition that takes place during a big year.

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