Often when I tell the uninitiated that I am a birder, they reply “Oh, you’re a bird-watcher”. To any true birder this is as aggravating as someone calling a bird a “Seagull” (There are gulls who live by & on the sea, but they are Gulls not Seagulls and there are over 20 species of them…but I digress).
I was watching a birding movie today and it mentioned that most birders don’t want to be listers they want to be watchers – but not birdwatchers. Watchers want to become one with the birds. They want those moments where the line between their souls the souls of the birds become one. I know that happens. I have been there. As I start to contemplate what my birding year will look like next year, the moments are what resonate.
My Big Year in Rhode Island birder friends have logged 100 birds by January 4th. Do you think less of me if I say I can’t imagine. Some of them are retired, but some are just committed. I’m not sure that I’m that committed to keeping a list.
My Bird Year in a Small Town was more about introducing myself – to the Birds, to the area & to the community of birders. I don’t know what next year will bring. Yes, I will be a birder. I expect I will see more birds, as I retire in Early April. I expect I will know birds and get more comfortable with identifying them by sight and by ear.
I would love to get better at spotting them, with & without sound. I’m still hoping for that app where you hold the phone in the air and an arrow appears pointing to the origin of the sound (hopefully a bird). Don’t get me wrong I’m still a committed birder, just not sure I’m that committed to the list or the chase. I guess we’ll see – but I think I’m a watcher.
Please note this Merlin is holding on to his lunch (under the limb) while he's bonding with me.
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