Falcon Freeway

In 2016, Christian Hagenlocher became the youngest birder to see over 750 species of birds in North America. Inspired by the journeys of Kenn Kaufman's book Kingbird Highway, Christian embarked on an epic road trip, car-camping his way across the continent in Wal-Mart parking lots. Subsisting on fruit snacks and Ramen noodles, Christian interviewed hundreds of birders in a large-scale effort to understand the emerging role technology plays in connecting people with nature. He describes the trials and triumphs of birding on a budget in his year-long quest for birds, detailing his run-ins with bears, bad weather, and a nudist cowboy, observing firsthand many of the challenges birds face in a rapidly-changing world.