Following our club field trip to the Erie Wetlands a couple weeks ago, a few of us gathered on the patio of a coffee shop in the cozy downtown. It had been a satisfying hour and a half, with 17 species on our list, including a couple of surprises. A pair of Lark Sparrows greeted us on the path, and half a dozen Western and Eastern Kingbirds. As we enjoyed beverages and baked goods, the question arose, “What keeps you birding?”
Whether one has been birding 30 years or just getting started, sharing thoughts about birding is a great topic of conversation. That’s the beauty of being amongst birding friends. Let’s be honest. Who among us has not seen the glazed-over look of non-birders who just ‘don’t get it’ when we are sharing our latest bird story?
So, back to the question at hand. What keeps you birding?
“You never know what you are going to see,” said Deb Durand. “I love watching bird behavior and being out in nature.” With over 30 years of birding under her belt, Deb added, “To get a lifer at this point is more challenging, but the search is fun!”
New members Celia and Mike Jenks are avid travelers. “To see different birds adds another element to the trips we take,” said Celia. Mike is a photographer who said that birding has given him a whole new subject area to study.
For Renee Claeys, birding from her back deck provides hours of enjoyment. “I’ve always been so intrigued how the birds survive and adapt to the different seasons,” she said. “I think about how interesting a bird’s life would be, experiencing the Earth from their perspective.”
Our conversation that day sparked my interest as to what draws others to keep birding? So, I posed the question to a few of our board members.
Outreach coordinator Anita Langdon enjoys the variety of birds who appear at feeders and trees in her yard. “The change of seasons brings different species,” she said. “Robins in the spring, House Finches in the summer, and American Goldfinches in the early fall. This summer I had a flock of Bushtits who love the sprinklers and suet feeder. It all gives me joy!”
The pull of being outdoors draws many of us to birding. Susan Nagle, our club’s presentation coordinator, shared, “I’ve come back to birding through all the phases of my life for one simple reason — it gets me out in nature. Being in nature delights me, calms me, and always surprises me with its beauty and diversity. Birds are flying works of art and I always enjoy looking through this winged gallery!”
Club president Christine Kindl agreed that being outdoors is a favorite aspect of birding. “I have always delighted in observing the natural world. I’m a gardener, a beachcomber, a birder because I believe that nature always has gifts to offer if we simply slow down and watch for them.”
She added, “Birding encourages me to move mindfully, pay attention to details. I learn something on every outing, whether it’s a quiet walk in familiar territory or an exploration of someplace new. Solo birding brings peace and joy; group excursions connect me with like-minded friends.”
So, what keeps YOU interested in birding? We’d love to know! Send me an email at karenbirdclub@yahoo.com and you may be featured in a follow-up Chirps story.
By Karen Clark
