The art of Bird-Watching is a hobby that seems to be widely respected by animal lovers, zoologists and adventurers, and widely taunted by most others not in such fields as a dull, and pointless past time. This derogatory opinion many members of the public have of this interest; the seeking out and observing of bird life in their natural habitats, tends to come from the common stereotypes presented by the media, and from cartoons, of what a bird watcher truly is. The majority of portrayals tend to present them as nerdy, scruffy haired men and women (usually men), wearing shorts and unappealing waterproof jackets, a large hat and a pair of ridiculously huge binoculars wrapped around their neck, who are constantly seen staring up at trees or staring down at old bird guides clutched in their hands; the guides pretty much obsolete however as they will almost definitely have memorised every species, their latin names, and every intricate bird call they make. This stereotype, although obviously untrue for many birders, can in my experience be completely factual however; myself personally having conversed with birders in nature reserves around London many times who fit this description to the letter. Birders that also travel all over the country, or even the planet, to catch sight of a particular specimen they have not had the benefit of seeing before; the sole purpose of which is to bear witness to it, mark it down on their piece of paper or in their memory, and add yet another addition to their lifetime achievement of sightings known as their life list.
But why should this stereotype put people off participating in such a wonderful activity? The characteristic clothing commonly worn by birders are definitely appropriate for the task at hand after all. Birds are aerodynamic creatures, which travel vast distances at great speeds, and inhabit a range of environments from forests, to grasslands and wetlands. Binoculars, waterproof clothing, shielding hats and hardy footwear are a must if Birders are to stand any chance of catching sight of a particular warbler, finch or harrier. And what is this avoidance people have with being nerdy? Of enjoying a subect to such an extent that they become unofficial experts in their field. And why shouldn't it be enjoyed? Birds come in a dazzling array of shapes, sizes and colours, and present some truly mesmerising behaviours that go completely unnoticed by many who do not consider binoculars their weapon of choice.
This stereotype is definitely not the norm however, and to be a Bird-Watcher does not require detailed knowledge of all avian species, their migration patterns, and the particular song patterns that differentiate the Song Thrush from the Mistle Thrush. It just takes a keen eye, a love of the outdoors, an appreciation of birds and the natural world, and patience; birds are awesome, but they won't just appear when you want them to.
The distances travelled by some birders as they chase rarer species are also not necessary. Simply walking through your local park and looking at the ducks in a pond can introduce you to the world of bird watching. Seeing the shimmering gleams and patterns of their feathers. The way they skim the water with their bills to sieve out aquatic invertebrates, and dunk their heads underneath the surface in search of fish. Even placing a bird feeder in your garden and watching it from a distance will bring you into this world. Watching small birds as they cautiously enter your garden after discovering the new food source, their heads swinging from left to right as they look out for predators, before leaping on a clutching it tightly with their talons; their heads bobbing back and forth as they feast on the bounty of seed and meal worms. The behaviours, the movements, and the sounds of these feathered creatures really becomes surprisingly interesting and thought provoking once you take the time to pay attention to them.
Bird Watching, due to its bad wrap from the media and the public, is not as popular as I think it should be. Probably because, like I said before, its considered as something mediocre, and reserved for boring people with bad social skills, dodgy fashion senses, and too much time on their hands. But what it is is a sport. An exciting activity. An activity that draws you out of your home and into the great outdoors, where looming trees surround you, fresh air engulfs you, and erratic weather poses little more than a minor inconvenience. Because the aim is clear, the passion deep, the payoff high. Find Birds. Find bull Finches and Sparrows. Peregrine Falcons and Swifts. Marsh Tits and Marsh Harriers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and the rarer spotted Lesser Spotted. Travel far and wide if the urge is great enough, although local sightings can be just as brilliant. See them, hear them, remember them, admire them, and soar as birds do with exhilaration when you see something truly incredible.
-Thomas Glen
Facebook.com/goodnaturepage
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