Bird Watching
by Jay Tee
Bird Watching Blog http://goldmineclick.com/blog: Birding or birdwatching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of birds (the study proper is termed ornithology). The term "birding" is of American origin; "birdwatching" is (or more correctly, was) the commonly used word in the United Kingdom and Ireland and by non-birders in the United States. Since visual observation is routinely complemented with auditory observation, the term "birding" is more accurate, and is growing in usage, particularly among devotees of the hobby. Birders at J "Ding" Darling reserve, Sanibel, FloridaThe most active times of the year for birding in the temperate zones are during spring and fall migration, when the greatest variety of birds may be seen, as many species that do not nest or overwinter in given areas may be observed as they make their way north or south.Early morning is typically the busiest time of the day for birding since many birds are then at their hungriest, searching most actively for food, and thus are easier to find and observe. Success in locating the more interesting species typically requires detailed knowledge of their appearance, sounds, behavior, and most likely habitat, in addition to good measures of stealth and patience.Birding can be one of the quieter and more relaxing outdoor activities. However, birders who are keen rarity-seekers will travel long distances to see a new species to add to the list of birds they have personally observed (life list, national list, state list, county list, year list, etc.).In Britain these fanatical birders are commonly known as twitchers, from the frenzy that descends on some when they receive news of a rare bird. The term may derive from one of its first proponents in the early 1960's, who used to arrive on his motorbike in freezing weather, still "twitching" from the cold. Some birders compete to build the biggest species lists.A North American one-day competition is called a "Big Day"; in Britain it is a "Bird Race". Teams trying to win such a competition or set the record for their designated area usually have to be in the field for twenty-four hours. They commonly drive hundreds of kilometers, and some record-chasers have employed private jets and helicopters in the enterprise.Equipment commonly used for birding includes binoculars and a telescope or spotting scope with tripod, a notepad, and one or more field guides. Twitchers will also have a mobile phone and a pager in order to keep constantly informed of rare bird sightings. Knowledge of the weather is also important, since the right winds can lead to drift migration.Twitching is probably most highly developed in the UK, The Netherlands and Ireland because their coastal locations add to the likelihood of rarities appearing there, and their small size makes it possible to reach any part of them (including most islands) in a few hours. Twitching is also highly popular in Finland and Sweden. In the United Kingdom there exists a particular twitchers' vocabulary which is surprisingly well developed and potentially confusing for the uninitiated. Similar vocabularies have developed in all countries where twitching is popular.
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