Birding and birdwatching—what's
the diff?
Birding and birdwatching mean the same
thing. The activity of observing wild birds. (Birds in cages or
any form of captivity don't count.)
What do people do when they
go birding?
Birdwatchers observe wild birds in their
natural habitat. Birdwatching means learning to identify the
birds and understand what they are doing. In North America,
there are over 800 species of birds. Wherever you live, you'll
probably find at least 100 species that are easy to find in your
area. Life suddenly gets more interesting when you become aware
of the varied bird life all around you.
Where do you watch birds?
Birding is something you can do in your
own back yard (it's a natural habitat too). Your local park.
Anywhere you travel. Or on trips you take specifically to see
birds that live in a certain environment, such as on a native
prairie in North Dakota, or in the old-growth forest of the
Pacific Northwest.
Who watches birds?
People of all ages watch birds. It's an
activity you can keep doing all your life, in any part of the
world.
Birding is the fastest-growing outdoor
activity in America. According to a survey by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 51.3 million Americans report that they watch
birds. And more are taking it up all the time.
How can I learn more about
birdwatching?
- Join a local bird club and go for a
walk with other birdwatchers.
- Subscribe to a magazine devoted to
birdwatching, such as
Bird Watcher's Digest.
- Order some DVDs or videos on
birdwatching. But don't spend too much time watching the TV
screen! Get outside and look at the actual birds.
- By all means, get your hands on a
good
bird book
(also known as a field guide). Or get two or three. Each one
gives you something none of the others has.
- Most important, start noticing the
birds around you.
Why birds?
Birds have always delighted people all
over the world because of their beauty and their power of
flight.
Historically, they used to be considered
omens. The ancient Romans believed that the flights and calls of
birds could foretell the future.
Today, modern science still uses birds as
a kind of oracle. Changes in bird populations can reflect the
health of the environment.
Some birds are indicator species, like the
USA's national bird, the bald eagle. They forecast environmental
conditions. The knowledge of birds can help us plan a better,
more sustainable relationship with nature.
What's in it for me if I
start birding?
- Fun.
Big fun. Something deep seems to get fulfilled. A connection
is made with the immense beauty of nature.
- Satisfaction.
Birding invokes our primeval hunting instincts. It delivers
all the satisfaction of the hunt, even though the prey
itself escapes unharmed. Birding is the perfect sport for
the 21st Century.
- Health.
Birding gets you vertical. It gets you outside and walking.
But it's effortless, because your attention is on the birds.
Nevertheless, after a little birding, you've usually covered
quite a bit of ground.
- Family.
Birding unites people across generations. By taking up
birding, parents or grandparents can introduce their
children to an interest in nature that will stay with them
all their lives.
- Companionship.
Birding is the ideal social activity. A birder need
never be lonely. Nearly every community has a birding club
of some sort. And because birders love to share their
knowledge, newcomers are always welcome.
- Solitude.
Birding is also the ideal solitary sport. There's a special
pleasure in going out alone to bird. Your mind settles down.
Your senses open up, and all nature seems to become your
friend. Birding is a sport of many moods, and it serves the
causes of companionship and solitude equally well.
Does birding matter to
science?
Birding also fulfills another basic
instinct—the quest for knowledge. Birding is about acquiring
knowledge. Not just about birds' names, but also about their
songs, their behavior, and how they relate to the rest of
nature. It's a perfect opportunity to enjoy a unique human
pleasure—the successful exercise of lore.
In fact, amateur birders often get to make
real contributions to scientific knowledge. Today, much of what
ornithology knows about birds has come from the observations of
ordinary but dedicated birders.
What kind of binoculars do
I need?
Vortex 10x32 Lightning Binocular
From: Online Nature Mall
Any
binoculars are better than none. You can start with whatever you
have. If you want advice on choosing the best binoculars for
birding, you can look in our
birding optics
section.
Can I share binoculars with
a friend?
You can. But every birder really needs his
or her own binoculars. Sharing means one person doesn't get to
see the bird before it flies away. This is hard on friendships.
What's a field guide?
Guide to Birds of North America v3.5
From: Online Nature Mall
A
field guide is a little book that's packed with information
about birds. It's the next best thing to an expert birder by
your side. It describes and shows pictures of the birds, and it
tells you which details of each bird to look for. There's good
advice on what to get in our
birding bookstore.
A hat?
Any old hat will do. Birding is not a
fashion contest. But the hat should shade your eyes and not
interfere with using your binoculars.
A
birding vest is
useful, too. You can put your binoculars, your field guide, your
pen and notebook, and perhaps some insect repellent in the
pockets. Hang the vest near the door, and you'll be ready to
grab it and have everything you need for birdwatching at a
moment's notice.
What's the notebook for?
For your birding field notes. It lets you
record what you see. It actually helps you to see, because when
you try to write a description of a bird, that encourages you to
observe carefully.
Is birding expensive?
Compared to other sports, birding is not
expensive. A notebook, a field guide, and binoculars—all
together will cost less than a good pair of athletic shoes. And
they'll take a lot longer to wear out. We assume you have a hat. |
