Intro to Bird Watching

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

Nope, it's just a bird.

But for bird watchers everywhere, spotting a beautiful bird is almost as exciting as seeing Superman. One of the best things about bird watching is that any age can participate in the hobby. It doesn't matter if you're 10, 20, or 100--bird watching is one of the most relaxing and educational hobbies on our list.

Why Bird Watching?

Humans have always been fascinated with birds. The ancient Romans, for instance, believed birds could tell the future. The Bible has many instances of birds as symbols as well--the dove, the raven, and even sparrows. (For more on Birds of the Bible, see The Symbols of Christianity). Today, we continue to use birds as metaphors. The United States has a bald eagle as its national symbol.

So what, you're thinking, why should I care about birds?

Birds can be an indication of overall environmental health. If you're interested in the environment, paying attention to birds can give you insight into many aspects of nature.

If you're not a "nature-y" kind of person, bird watching may still interest to you. Why? Well, with our busy lifestyles, we often forget to slow down and enjoy the surroundings. Bird watching gives you the chance to, you know, slow down.

It's also great for the info-junkie within. Bring a notebook and keep careful track of the birds you see.

Okay, I'm Interested--What Do I Need to Go Bird Watching?

The answer is...not much! Maybe I'm just stingy, but my favorite hobbies are the cheap ones. And bird watching is, well, pretty darn cheap. That said, there are a few things you'll want to bring along:

Binoculars

A pair of binoculars is the one bird watching necessity. If you already have a pair of binoculars, use those. If you're serious about bird watching, you can opt for the more expensive binoculars, but it isn't necessary. Anything that allows you to see the birds will work just fine!

Notebook

You probably already have a notebook. If not, they're cheap.

Use the notebook to keep track of the kinds of birds you see. This is where bird watching is great fun for info-junkies.

Field Guide

A field guide is not necessary--but it can be a lot of fun! A field guide is a book that gives you information on different kinds of birds.

If you'd prefer saving some money, you can look up bird information on the internet before you go, and even print out the pages to take with you!

Hat

A hat is not necessarily a necessity (say it 3 times fast!) but it is useful--particularly if it's sunny outside.

You probably already have a hat to wear. Of course, if you want to be blatant about your love for the hobby, you could always try out this hat.

All in all, bird watching is relaxing, fun, and informative. Give it a try, and you'll see what I mean!