John W. Vanderpoel (born October 11, 1949) is an American birdwatcher, birding guide, and author born in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines Illinois. With a degree in biology focusing on ornithology Vanderpoel completed a birding Big Year in 2011 where he saw 744 bird species in North America, placing him one species away from the all-time record. His book Full Chase Mode details his adventures during 2011.