It's a lot to ask . . . to spend hours in the gorgeous wilds of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. GGNRA's Endangered Species Big Year competition is prompting interested Bay Area residents and explorers to do just that. And in the process, help document the 33 endangered species found within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The person who sees and helps the most species between January 1 and December 31 of 2008 wins the prize.

Big Year 2008 kicks off with an opening event at the San Francisco Zoo on January 6. After that, it's up to you to navigate pathways of the GGNRA, checking endangered species off your list, and contributing to their protection and existence through measures recommended at the Big Year website. Big Year also has a full calendar of 2008 events from guided walks to habitat restoration workshops.

For more information on GGNRA's Big Year and upcoming Big Year events:

• About the Big Year
• GGNRA Endangered Species and Actions You Can Take
• GGNRA Calendar of Events

^{Image Courtesy of GGNRA Big Year 2008}