The Definition, Please
We like the definition used by the Fish and Wildlife Service for their annual survey - a bird watcher is someone
that watches birds with the intent of identifying the birds she encounters. This definition does a nice
job of differentiating between people that simple go for a walk and say "gee, that was a pretty bird" and those
that are involved in the active pursuit of viewing and identifying birds.
Most of us know a bird watcher when we see one. They typically have binoculars hanging around their neck and perhaps
a hat on their head. On average, they seem a bit older and perhaps have the look of a professor. In truth, these
stereotypes mask the great diversity of people that love bird watching. Their are young children and teenagers that
love birding and executive of major corporations that love nothing more than running off to Africa for a vacation
dedicated to birds.
For some, bird watching is a sport where the score is based on the number of species "ticked" or viewed in a specific time
period. The person with the most ticks in a day or in a year claims victory. For others, bird watching is not a
sport but rather a leisure time activity that brings great pleasure without the need to compete against others.
People interested in bird watching are often generally interested in nature. They like to walk in the woods
and wade through the swamps. They join societies that strive to conserve natural habitats and protect living things.
In our opinion, bird watchers are not such a bad group to join.
| 
