bird watching

Birding or birdwatching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of birds (the study proper is termed ornithology). The term "birding" is of United StatesAmerican origin; "birdwatching" is (or more correctly, was) the commonly used word in the United Kingdom and Ireland and by non-birders in the United States. Since visual observation is routinely complemented with auditory observation, the term "birding" is more accurate, and is growing in usage, particularly among devotees of the hobby.

''Birders at J "Ding" Darling reserve, Sanibel, Florida''

The most active times of the year for birding in the temperate zones are during spring and fall bird migrationmigration, when the greatest variety of birds may be seen, as many species that do not nest or overwinter in given areas may be observed as they make their way north or south. Early morning is typically the busiest time of the day for birding since many birds are then at their hungriest, searching most actively for food, and thus are easier to find and observe. Success in locating the more interesting species typically requires detailed knowledge of their appearance, sounds, behavior, and most likely habitat, in addition to good measures of stealth and patience.Birding can be one of the quieter and more relaxing outdoor activities. However, birders who are keen rarity-seekers will travel long distances to see a new species to add to the list of birds they have personally observed (life list, national list, state list, county list, year list, etc.). In Britain these fanatical birders are commonly known as ''twitchers'', from the frenzy that descends on some when they receive news of a rare bird. The term may derive from one of its first proponents in the early 1960's, who used to arrive on his motorbike in freezing weather, still "twitching" from the cold. Some birders compete to build the biggest species lists. A North American one-day competition is called a "Big Day"; in Britain it is a "Bird Race". Teams trying to win such a competition or set the record for their designated area usually have to be in the field for twenty-four hours. They commonly drive hundreds of kilometers, and some record-chasers have employed private jets and helicopters in the enterprise. Equipment commonly used for birding includes binoculars and a telescope or spotting scope with tripod, a notepad, and one or more field guides. Twitchers will also have a mobile phone and a pager in order to keep constantly informed of rare bird sightings. Knowledge of the weather is also important, since the right winds can lead to drift migration. Twitching is probably most highly developed in the United KingdomUK, The Netherlands and Ireland because their coastal locations add to the likelihood of rarities appearing there, and their small size makes it possible to reach any part of them (including most islands) in a few hours. Twitching is also highly popular in Finland and Sweden. In the United Kingdom there exists a particular twitchers' vocabulary which is surprisingly well developed and potentially confusing for the uninitiated. Similar vocabularies have developed in all countries where twitching is popular.Seawatching is a type of birdwatching where observers based at a coastal watchpoint, such as a headland, watch birds out at, or moving over, the sea.Prominent national organizations concerned with birding include the RSPB in the United Kingdom, and the National Audubon Society and American Birding Association in the United States. Many statewide or local Audubon organizations are also quite active in the U.S. BirdLife International is an important global alliance of bird conservation organisations.Many birders take part in censuses of bird populations and their bird migration migratory patterns which are sometimes specific to individual species and sometimes count all the birds in a given area (as in a Christmas Bird Count). This citizen science can assist in identifying environmental threats to the well-being of birds or, conversely, in assessing the outcomes of environmental management initiatives intended to ensure the survival of at-risk species or encourage the breeding of species for aesthetic or ecological reasons. This more scientific side of the hobby is an aspect of ornithology.Increasing (seasonal) bird populations can be a good indicator of biodiversity or the quality of different habitats. Some species may be persecuted as vermin, often illegally (e.g. the Hen Harrier in Britain), under the (usually false) perception that predatory species increase in number at the expense of other species of birds, insects, or smaller mammals. In most cases, the reverse applies, that the population of predatory species is controlled by the abundance of the prey species. There are therefore scientific reasons for some bird counts in defined geographic areas.Photography has always been a part of birding, but in the past the cost of good cameras and long lenses made this a minority, often semi-professional, interest. The advent of affordable digital cameras which can be used in conjunction with binoculars or a telescope (a technique known as digiscoping) have made this a much more widespread aspect of the hobby.

Socio-Psychology of birdwatching - It has been suggested that birdwatching is a form of expression of the innate need for human connections to the environment. Ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen considered birdwatching as an expression of the male hunting instinct.Another intriguing connection has been that of the interest in birds by spies. Although the idea for James Bond arose from the author of a bird book, there have been several cases of spies who were serious ornithologists such as Sidney Dillon Ripley and Richard Meinertzhagen.

Celebrity birders -

Members of the band British Sea Power

Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke

Kenneth Clarke Member of !Parliament#United_KingdomMP

Billy Fury

Trevor Harrison

Eric Morecambe

Bill Oddie

Hisako, Princess Takamado of Japan

Harold Wilson former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

See also -

Big year

birdfeeding

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

List of birding journals and magazines

Notable birding-related books of the 20th Century

External links -

birdingonthe.net - Birdingonthe.net

ebird.net - Ebird - where No. American bird observations are recorded

birdlife.org - BirdLife International - alliance of conservation ogranisations

birdforum.com - BirdForum

fatbirder.com - Fatbirder

surfbirds.com - Surfbirds Birding

worldtwitch.com - Worldtwitch - rare bird news around the world

birding.in - Birding in India and South Asia

birderblog.com - Birdwatching !BlogCategory:Birdwatchingfa:پ رنده‌نگریit:Birdwatc hingnl:Vogelenja:野鳥観察s v:Fågelskådareth:การ� �ูนกzh:观鸟 DEBUG REDIRECT (birdwatching)

Algarvian Holiday Rentals
Luxury villas, apartments and cottages throughout the Algarve available for holiday rental.
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EarthSpirits.net Home & Garden Decor
Resource for quality home and garden products including bird feeders, baths, fountains and more.
http://www.earthspirits.net/

New Zealand Birds, Nga Manu o Aotearoa
Descriptions of New Zealand's birds together with a news journal, places to go birding and other bird emphemera
http://www.nzbirds.com/

www.blacksprucetours.com
Specializing in all types of custom tours to eastern Canada and parts of the Canadian north
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www.kaymarantours.com
KAT offers a variety of eco tourism activities from small and large motorized boats (2-40 passengers) to Guided Kayak Tours of the nearby Ladner Marsh. You can even rent a bike. Bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities are superb in the estuary which is home to the well known Reifel Island Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island.
http://www.kaymarantours.com/

Poachers Hideaway
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Turismo Aonikenk is an incoming tour operator specializing in adventure and discovery travel in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (Chile and Argentina).
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Wild Watch Thailand
Wild Watch Thailand takes you on unforgettable nature-based and wildlife tours in the national parks and wilderness areas of Thailand. Our wildlife and nature tours are led by knowledgeable naturalists and provide a thrilling mixture of outdoor adventures, nature discovery and wildlife viewing.
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All About South Padre Island Texas
What to do and see while visiting South Padre Island Texas
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Adventures Pacific
Tofino Whale Watching, Bear watching and Hot Springs Cove Tours in Clayoquot Sound British Columbia.
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Wisconsin Birding
Offers articles, hot lists, and forums for birding in and around Wisconsin.
http://www.wisconsinbirding.net

Mrs Nasrin Harris
We specialise in tailor-made itineraries and small group tours to IranThe company now offers a comprehensive range of programme throughout Iran to cover all aspect of beauty of this vast country. Such as Historical/ Cultural, Trekking, Nomads, Wildlife, horse riding, skiing, garden tours, astronomy
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Otella's Wine Country Inn
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Adventure in East Africa
Safaris, Tours, accommodation, weddings and activities in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda
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Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge
A wildlife refuge in southern Costa Rica where visitors may go to see, learn about and appreciate tropical nature
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Cyprus, general information on Cyprus and holiday in Traditional stone built village house
There are lots of things to see and do in Cyprus, we give you ideas on what there is available. Our house is a great base for exploring the whole island so you can stay at our house and just discover Cyprus
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Blue Ridge Gazette Magazine
The Blue Ridge Mountains, from Pennsylvania to Georgia, is a culturally diverse region filled with a colorful history and rich with natural beauty and people of extreme artistic qualities. Here at The Blue Ridge Gazette our mission is to celebrate, educate, and raise awareness of all that the region and its people have to offer.
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Bird Watching
Videos about birds and bird watching.
http://www.birdwatching.com/

Birder.com
Links and books useful to birders.
http://www.birder.com/

Hong Kong Bird-Watching Society
Excellent site for information on birds and birdwatching in Hong Kong.
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/

Bird Watching Tours of Anchorage
Half day tours of local habitats. Rates, bird checklist, and reservations.
http://anchoragebirding.com/