Why bird?

Most people are utterly confused when I tell them that I like to spend my spare time with a pair of really expensive binoculars slung about my neck looking at birds. "WHY," is usually the first, and sometimes, the only question I get, with an incredible look of perplexity on the face of the questioner.

Well, first of all, it is really fun! If you like a challenge, and most people do, try carting a bird book and binoculars around with you in the woods and figure out what kinds of birds are flitting about all around you. When you become addicted to the incredible beauty and diversity of the bird world, your next challenge is to be able to identify them BEFORE you see them - by sound.

Secondly, birding is an intellectual pursuit, and every time I go out and bird, I learn something. Whenever you pay close attention to your surroundings, you are bound to learn, and that is one of the most rewarding things about birding. Just recently, I went for a little hike with my dog Stella, and as usual, I brought my binoculars. As soon as I got out of the car, I heard Black-capped Chickadees making a bunch of noise, and I knew they weren't talking to me. So I watched them for a while. Chickadees are birds that you usually don't pay too much attention to unless they are upset about something or there aren't any other birds around. This was a case when both things were true, so I watched the Chickadees for a bit - plus, they are REALLY cute! As I watched, I noticed they were perched 2 or so feet off the ground, they were looking down, and they were scolding something that seemed to be walking slowly through the brush. I watched for about 5 minutes before I could see what they were all hyped up about, then I saw it. A bright red flash of a fox, sneaking through the underbrush. My dog didn't even know it was there, but the Chickadees sure did! I can tell you about 50 stories like this, all because I pay attention to the birds when I'm outside!

The third thing that has me hooked on birding is you can and should do it almost everywhere. It is a great reason to travel to some of the most remote and beautiful parts of the world, and I know I will never run out of reasons to travel! And luckily, my parents are birders and they have taken me on a number of trips and have helped my North American ABA list reach 504 where it is right now.

One more thing - I am always meeting new people when I bird, and birders are an interesting group. I know that if I walk up to someone with binoculars around their neck, we will have a lot to talk about, and we will probably have a pretty nice conversation too! f you walk up to someone with binoculars around their neck and ask what they're looking at, they will usually be more than happy to show you and teach you about the birds. Birders love to get more people birding because the more eyes that are out there looking at the birds, the more interesting rarities we shall find!

Birding is something everyone can do and that's yet another great thing about it! I've only been doing it a few years but I already have developed my skills pretty well and I get better all the time.

Have you ever seen a bird that seemed out of place in your backyard and wondered what the heck it was? Have you ever seen a hawk, owl, eagle, or falcon hunting and been really impressed? When people find out that I am a birder, without fail, they they have a bird question that usually starts like this: "I saw this bird that..." and ends like this, "What kind of bird was it?" We are all curious about birds - they are one of the few animal groups to have mastered multiple domains on the planet: the sky, the sea, the ice, and everywhere in between. So get yourself a bird guide and figure out some of these crazy feathered creatures! See where they take you!