I’ve always been interested in nature. As a kid I was lucky I grew up with a barn in my backyard and acres of land to explore. Becoming a birdwatcher was something that developed out of that and over time. Each person will have their own journey on how they became a birdwatcher.

What I love about birdwatching is that it is a constant learning experience. There are always things to learn. It is always a challenge, and I find that you tend to learn more from your mistakes- so don’t be afraid to make them. It will only make you a better birdwatcher and better at studying birds that are really unpredictable in their behavior. 

HERE ARE SOME OF THE LEARNING FOILBLES THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED.

1. 1. Lots of photos of bird butts or blurry birds.
   2. Lots of fuzzy photos of a tail already out of the scene.
   3. Lots and lots of photos of branches.
   4. Sending in and e-bird checklist only to get an email telling you what you thought was one kind of bird is another kind of bird.
   5. Thinking that you see some rare bird and its only a goldfinch in some crazy light.
   6. Hearing what you think is a bird call, then searching the trees for 5 minutes before you realize it’s a chipmunk or squirrel or tree branches rubbing LOL.
   7. Seeing a bird quickly then repeating some obvious ID points, opening your bird app or book and not remembering most of those points.
   8. Driving an hour to see some bird in some obscure place and waiting 4 hours for it to never show up (like it didn’t get the memo that you were coming to see it)

ONCE YOU BECOME A BIRDWATCHER, THE FOLLOWING ARE THINGS THAT TEND TO BECOME COMMON IN YOUR LIFE.

1. 1. You actually point out to others bird calls on the TV and the information on whether that bird would even be in that region the TV show is supposed to be in.
   2. You point out on TV shows where an Eagle calls and that it actually is the call of a Red-tail Hawk.
   3. You have a conversation with someone and are intent on listening to them until a bird flies by. Instead of a “SQUIRREL!” distraction it is “BIRD!”.
   4. Then instead of refocusing on the conversation you interrupt that person to inform them of what the bird you just saw was (like the other person even cares).
   5. You spot hawks all along the highway and scare the driver as you point them out.
   6. You get out of a car and see movement in bushes or trees, you then walk over to it and “Pish” at it, hoping to lure the bird out, as people stare at you strangely.
   7. Trying to explain where a bird is in a bunch of trees by saying “you see that dead branch to the left…”
   8. When a friend calls you to ask what a bird was that they saw and describes it as small and brown or small and grey.LOL