| I've been a bird watcher for most of my days. I | | | | George Forsythe Bird Refuge near Atlantic City. During |
| became a bird nerd while a teenager and would skip | | | | the winter there are tens of thousands of these |
| school during the major migrations to watch the birds. | | | | magnificent birds in New Jersey, Delaware, and |
| The truant officers frowned on this and would come | | | | Maryland. The millions of people who live in this area, if |
| out looking for me. They seldom got as far out in the | | | | they will take the time to do it, can easily view them. |
| boonies as I did. | | | | To view birds start with a pair of good binoculars. I like |
| My home state of Utah was 85,000 square miles of | | | | 8 X 35, but you can get a more powerful pair if you |
| good birding territory with almost 500 species of birds | | | | like. If you do, you may want to have a pair that has |
| due to the variation in climate, altitude, and terrain. | | | | adjustable magnification. A spotting scope with an |
| There was a good population of waterfowl and | | | | adaptor for mounting it on your car window is good |
| shorebirds. It was not difficult to see 100 species in a | | | | when watching birds in a refuge. You can mount a |
| day. | | | | camera to it. Get a tripod. |
| Birding on the gun clubs and reserves near Great Salt | | | | I have a pair of binoculars with a camera built in. I |
| Lake was a major pastime. At times we would | | | | haven't used it yet, but I'm sure I will enjoy it. |
| hitchhike the 80 miles north of Salt Lake City to the | | | | You will need a field guide for your area. |
| Bear River Bird Refuge 14 miles west of Brigham City. | | | | Carefully read the descriptions. Remember that birds |
| I'm not sure what its status is now but when I was | | | | are creatures of habitat and you will find them in the |
| young it was the largest bird refuge in the world. | | | | particular habitats described in the guides. |
| In recent years, the Great Salt Lake has risen and it | | | | Note their migrations. |
| covered the bird reserves for some time. The | | | | Maps in the guide will tell you which times of the year |
| reserves are coming back but birding is not like it was | | | | you will be able to see specific birds. I suggest that you |
| in our day. Still, I like to drive out to Bear River and think | | | | buy at least two guides that cover your area. |
| about what it was like and hopefully will be again. | | | | Visit a local bird club (like Audubon) to meet people |
| The thing about birding is that you can do it in the city | | | | who know birds and who will help you identify birds on |
| or country, on land or sea, at work (sometimes) or on | | | | field trips. Some of these folks may be a bit quirkier |
| vacation, or even when sick in bed. If you can't get to | | | | than other people you have met, but they are most |
| the birds you can get them to come to you by | | | | always friendly, helpful, and intelligent. There will |
| designing your yard as a bird habitat. | | | | probably be a professor or two at each meeting. You |
| Bird study is like painting a landscape. There is no clock | | | | will be in good company. |
| and there is no hurry. It's a time of complete relaxation | | | | I was in St. Louis just before Christmas and I went |
| and exclusion of the cares of the world. If you are not | | | | birding with my son. It felt warm when I left the house, |
| an artist, its doing something that requires your total | | | | so I didn't dress for the weather that suddenly chilled. |
| attention and excludes all other activities. | | | | When you are old, you are cold. While I was sitting in |
| Most birders keep a list of their sightings. Some record | | | | the car waiting for my son, he saw a Piliated |
| in detail what they see, others just check the bird off in | | | | Woodpecker. |
| the back of their bird guides. Many photograph the | | | | The Piliated is a very large bird, the size of a crow, and |
| birds they see, a hobby in a hobby. | | | | always exciting to see. Fortunately, my son |
| Some years back I vidio taped the history of the | | | | photographed the bird and I was able to see it, a male. |
| Canada Goose for a total year. From the time they | | | | So don't do as I did. Dress warmly in the winter. |
| are born until the time of their first migration is just over | | | | Recently, the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, which is even |
| 80 days. I enjoyed watching the geese that wintered in | | | | larger than the Piliated Woodpecker, was |
| South New Jersey, the mating rituals in the spring, the | | | | rediscovered. Over the years sightings have straggled |
| raising of the young, and the migration flights. I indend to | | | | in, but many thought the bird was extinct in the United |
| put these tapes on DVD for future enjoyment. | | | | States. This great creature is every birders dream to |
| During the period that I studied the geese, I | | | | see. See it at |
| photographed thousands of snow geese at the | | | | That's why folks watch birds. |