Give the Gift of Birds
11/29/15
By David Brown
This weekend we are all thinking about the blessings in our lives. I am thankful for having a hobby I can enjoy for the rest of my life and having so many friends in the local birding community that I can enjoy it with.
This holiday season, consider giving a child the gift of binoculars and a field guide. Even if they aren't used right away, keep them handy near a window and some day a bird will show up in the backyard that requires closer inspection. Kids are naturally curious so if you make the tools available to them sooner or later they will give the activity a try. Of course this advice doesn't only apply to kids. Many teenagers and adults have never been exposed to the variety of birds we have and do not own a decent pair of binoculars.
The stereotype of birders is usually a group of serious people quietly walking along without being allowed to get excited, but that definitely is not the typical birding experience. People go birding to have fun. Sometimes we see a lot of good birds and sometimes we don't, but we always have fun. Birders run the spectrum of personality types from shy introverts to excitable extroverts. In fact, younger birders usually are involved in the hobby because of the social aspect. A rare bird a couple of hours away is the perfect excuse for a road trip with your friends.
You may find it hard to believe that young people are willing to pull themselves away from the screens of their electronics. If you look at the video games that are popular they usually involve collecting objects or finishing all objectives. This same drive causes many young birders to get addicted to birding as they work to find more and more bird species in their county or state. Of course there is also the process of building up your reputation as a good birder and the bragging rights that come along with finding rare birds.
I graduated high school and college without ever being taught the common birds of our area. If bird identification isn't being taught in schools then I feel it is the responsibility of people like me and organizations like the Lycoming Audubon Society to teach people. Over 225 bird species have been seen in Lycoming County this year, but how many of those can the average person recognize? When I first started I only knew a handful of species, but I quickly learned as I went out on my own. I felt a bit like John James Audubon, discovering each new species for myself as if no one had ever seen them before. If you find a good mentor, the progress that can be made in even a single year is much greater.
If you have someone in your life and you aren't sure what gifts to get them this holiday season, consider a pair of binoculars and a field guide and perhaps you will open their eyes to a whole new world.
