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Birding is one of the most popular outdoor activities in the world. Millions of people around the world do it in some form or fashion. Such interactions with animals is a form of leisure enjoyment. Many people bird for recreational reasons, others do it as a social activitiy, some even do it as a form of competition. There are birds out there that boast life lists with thousands of bird species on them. Many will travel hundreds of miles over a weekend to see places were sightings of rare birds occured. Many keep lists of species that they have seen over their life time. In the simpliest form, a bird watcher may start out feeding pigeons or other invasive bird species in city. Maybe this simple activity leads to buying a bird feeder for his or her backyard. One day an usual bird shows up, this leads watcher to question what it is? It's not a Northern Cardinal or a House Finch, what is this pretty bird with a pointed bill and streaky yellow feathers doing at my feeder in the middle of winter? This may lead to a purchase of a bird field guide and if the observer wants a close up, a pair of binoculars. Chances are that this habit will not lead to a pair of $1600 dollar binoculars, but it would start a serious interest in wildlife and money spent for ecotourism. Thousands of dollars are bought into little towns like High Island, Tx and Sauk City, WI every year because of the attractions that birds bring. This wildlife economy helps the people of these areas to realize the importance of wildlife and this leads to the protection of habitat. The same kinds of ideas are being used all over the world to save animals. And it all starts with people taking an interest in wildlife. This hobby may take you to watch Atlantic Puffins atMachias Seal Island, Maine, or to Santa Ana NWR, Texas, to see Groove-billed Anis or far west to see Black Oystercatchers on the Pacific Coast. Whether you are a college student or a middle school teacher, birding has something for you. For college students, birding can add to the much needed day time weekend activities, to balance out from the night life. For the middle school teacher, it could add many more activities for your classroom, Flying Wild activities as "Food Chain Tag" or "Jeop-Birdy." The follow are Birding Related Organizations:
What ever type of birding activities you do, please keep your disturbances to birds, other wildlife and their habitat to a minimum. |
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