Bird Watching

Bird Watching

Bird watching, also called birding, is a recreational pastime which involves observing wild birds in their native habitat. People at all levels of fitness and ornithological knowledge can be birders, and many regions have thriving bird watching societies which sponsor trips and educational lectures. There are a number of reasons to participate in bird watching, but most birders say that they simply enjoy the opportunity to go outside, learn about nature, and spend time with people who have like interests.

Humans have been identifying and observing birds for centuries, in an attempt to become more knowledgeable about the natural world. Modern birders restrict their identifications to photographs and drawings, but in former centuries, birders also shot and mounted birds that they identified in the wild. One of the most famous bird watchers, John Jacob Audubon, killed hundreds of birds, including many new species, and brought them back to life in vivid and unique drawings which were published in 1840 to great public acclaim.