The author tells the story of how he traveled across forty-one countries in an attempt to see half of the world's birds in one year, sharing the challenges that he faced, as well as the birds and bird-lovers he found on the way.

End of the world -- The DSP -- Cerro Negro -- Over the years -- The Harpy -- Gunning it -- An angel of peace -- Flying free -- Home -- Missed connections -- Kalu -- The Karamoja Apalis -- A new world record -- Hit and miss -- Birds in paradise -- From end to end.