[texbirds] Re: birdwatcher or birder or ?
- From: Ronnie Kramer <ronniekramer1964@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: canyoneaglej@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 06:19:51 -0600
Yes that sounded a bit 180 at best to me. 20 years ago birding was
understood to be a competitive sport. Listing, counting, big days, etc.
Once you see the bird and id it, move on to another spot and tick something
else.
Birdwatcher is an older term that refers to someone who is interested in
looking at birds. It includes people who are casually interested as well
as naturalists. Keeping lists originally was nothing more then keeping
records. When those records became a goal in themselves, the sport of
birding appeared.
I don't think it's an "Are you a birder or a birdwatcher?" If you travel
with the goal or hope of ticking lifers, county birds, etc., you are a
birder. If you try to see the interactions, behavior, etc and learn about
the birds ecology, you are a naturalist. Both are birdwatchers as well is
the person who keep a pair of bins handy when in the backyard to look at
the common birds under the feeder.
At least that's they way I've always understood the terms.
~Ronnie Kramer, Austin
On Sun, Feb 3, 2013 at 11:36 AM, LMarkoff <canyoneaglej@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
> <snip>
> I read a wonderful distinction not long ago between a birdwatcher and a
> birder. A birdwatcher looks at birds; a birder hears, sees, observes
> behaviour, and studies eating habits.
> <snip>
>
> Vicki Crutchfield
>
> //////////////////////////////////////////////
>
> Hi Texbirds,
>
> Gosh that's funny...that sounds backwards to me. I think of birdwatchers
> as
> those who take the time to study birds and to learn their habits. I think
> of birders as listers, those who see birds as sport. Their main goal is to
> tick a bird, not to study it.
>
> I call myself a bird freak, sort of a hybrid of "birdwatcher" and "birder".
> My main interest is to learn more about bird behavior, where birds hang out
> and why, stuff like that. Migration and range intrigue the heck outta me!
> When I discover something about a bird's "secret life" it makes my day.
> Even "common" birds are intriguing if you watch them closely. Birds are
> good company for me.
>
> Otoh, once in a while I give chase, just for the fun of it. I can get
> pretty crazy about it too. I've been known to haul 750 miles in a day to
> see a particular bird. That one was a Green-breasted Mango, seen in
> freezing rain, but it was worth it! Once every few years I will make an
> effort to tally my life list, I call it My Planet Earth List. The last
> time
> I tallied it, it was 601. I've forgotten a few, and I never got around to
> writing down most of the birds I got on my trips to Mexico, so those are
> gone with the wind. It is a loose list. Whatever the correct tally may
> be,
> I had a blast accumulating it over the years.
>
> Whatever we call ourselves, whatever our style of being with birds, I hope
> folks will continue to share at least a little of their birdy adventures on
> Texbirds. Even if you do Facebook, please post on Texbirds too. Isn't
> part
> of the joy of birding being able to share with like-minded folks? And the
> more places you have to share, the more fun it is. When I read of your
> excitement about a bird, I feel that excitement too, and I smile for you.
> We can all use a little more joy in our day, you know?
>
> Share the joy,
>
> Lori Markoff
> Austin
>
>
>
>
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