birdwatching

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

Anytime Tours
Anytime Tours, founded by bo beolesn [better known as Fatbirder] offers custom made tours for birders anywhere, any time! There are many draft itineraries but more destinations as the extensive network of birders all over the world who contribute to Fatbirder can be called upon. Anytime Tours specialises in arranging birding tours for couples at a time to suit them. Local experts are used as guides, there is no glossy brochure, and you do not pay for a guide to fly out with you so overheads are low and prices for couples are at least as good as the price to join a large group at a set time! Worldwide Birdwatching Tours!
http://www.anytimetours.co.uk

The Disabled Birders Association
The dbs is an international movement created in the year 2000 to lobby for better provision for birdwatchers with disabilities including better access to preserves, reserves, national parks and other birding places and to improved equipment to help birders with disabilities enjoy their hobby. It was founded by bo beolens [more widely known as 'Fatbirder'] who has birded for 50 years and had a disability for over 30 years. Membership is free and open to all. The largest chapter is in the UK and the next largest in the US and there are members from Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
http://www.disabledbirdersassociation.co.uk

Tourism,gastronomy,fun/Tourisme,gastronomie,humour
Country Guest House in South West France / Chambres d'Hôtes - Table d'Hôte en Gascogne, à Fontrailles près de Trie-sur-Baïse, France
http://www.collinson.fr/

Wild Spain
Information on Nature and Outdoor Travel in Spain
http://www.wild-spain.com/

Fatbirder
Fatbirder aims to be the world's largest free on-line resource to birders and birdwatchers world wide. Founded by bo beolens it has pages for every country in the world and every state for large countries like Canada, US, Brazil, India, Argentina, China, Russia, South Africa, Auistralia etc. As bo beolens comes from England there are pages for every county in the United Kingdom too! There are also pages for each bird family with species lists. Each page is introduced by a local birder so there is information for birders from all over the world on the countries birding, birding hotspots, birdwatching equipment, birding guides and holidays, fieldguides and other books, reserves and national parks, mailing groups, trip reports and very much more. It is like a wikepedia of world wide birding, birdwatching and birds.
http://www.fatbirder.com

Casa Azul
English owned bed & breakfast in the Lecrin Valley in Andalucia close to Granada and the Costa Tropical
http://fishinginspain.co.uk/

Gibson Heritage House Bed & Breakfast in the sunny Okanagan
Penticton Bed and Breakfast Gibson Heritage House, built in 1906, is situated in the heart of the Okanagan Valley: Penticton, British Columbia. Spend time at the beach, in the city or on the mountain - Penticton has something to offer everyone.
http://www.gibsonbb.com/

Val Tours travel agency, Biograd na moru, Croatia
Accommodation in Biograd na moru - self catering, B&B, halfboard, stone houses directly on sea, on islands, speciality programs: diving, seakayaking, canoeing, rafting, sailing school, birdwatching in Croatia, information about the destination.
http://www.val-tours.com/

Caravan Sahra Co.
Tour & Travel Agency
http://www.caravansahra.com/

The Pendeli Hotel, Platres, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus
We are the family run Pendeli Hotel, set in the beautiful mountain resort of Platres, offering traditional Cypriot hospitality in combination with modern facilities. All guest-rooms are comfortably furnished and equipped with central heating (winter), ceiling fan, fitted carpet, bathroom, television, telephone, hair dryer, clock radio and private balcony, most overlooking the valley and the surrounding countryside. Stay with us and enjoy this beautiful location, surrounded by lush pine forests, picturesque villages and the sunshine of Cyprus.
http://pendelihotel.com.cy/

Bird Watching
Videos about birds and bird watching.
http://www.birdwatching.com/

Birdwatching Australia
A directory by region of tours, bird clubs, freelance guides, bird-orientated accommodation, and reference information.
http://www.ausbird.com/

Geographia
Provides information about the people, history, culture, natural terrain, and tourist attractions in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
http://www.geographia.com/

Kibbutz Lotan Centre for Birdwatching
Birds and birding tours in Israel, with Israel Rare Birds Committee, recent sightings, site guides, checklists, and articles.
http://www.birdingisrael.com/

Birdwatching Breaks
International birdwatching excursion company based in Kent.
http://www.birdwatchingbreaks.com/