Why spend time birding?
Well, if you try it you'll get hooked. Birds are all around us. Non-birders just miss them and all the fun and pleasure that come with it.
Just think of this. You are on a nature trail, hiking a slow pace and you have your binoculars with you. Now you are enjoying all the pretty birds. You can identify most of them and appreciate their colors. You're now observing bird behavior and you understand why the male singing in the breeding season is either attracting a female or protecting his territory. You know where the nest is because of the bird's behavior and you smile when you spot it.
This nice walk in nature while birding is good for exercise and mental relaxation. Almost soothing.
Now, it's early winter and you're excited because most birds have their new plumage after their fall molting. And you're even more amazed because some of these birds have flown all the way from Canada to avoid the harsh winter and some of them have gone to South America for even warmer temperatures and you know it's bird migration time. You're on the same nature trail and here comes people walking quickly. You greet each other and walk on. It's only then that you realize, they didn't seem to notice any of the birds.
Some people walk by a beautiful wildflower or a pretty butterfly and don't even notice. Same with birds. I just think birds are prettier and more interesting.
Can you imagine, that with all the beautiful colors of birds, I use to see just a grayish dark color on birds before I became a birder? Yes, I was just like the folks I mentioned about earlier. I didn't know much about birds either. Now, I see all the different colors on the tail, the crown, the wing bars, the bill or eye colors. Of course, I use binoculars like other birders.
Like certain things in life, a person will have to experience it to appreciate it. That's the reason why it's hard for me to convey in writing the pleasure that birding has given me.
I've noticed that most birders are intelligent, analytical, educated and curious minded people. My opinion may be biased here. I do hope more people with such traits would get into birding. It's a whole world out there...to be enjoyed. If you appreciate pretty flowers and butterflies, you will appreciate birds too.
Birding can take you to many places in your State, your country, and the world. Why? Birders keep an ever-growing list of bird species they have observed. To keep that list growing, you may want to keep going farther and farther into new bird habitats and territories. All over the world if you wish.
Welcome to the world of birding!
