World Clock
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What is a Birder? What is it that makes a birder a birder? Do you have to run around the country with a pair of binoculars, wearing a birding vest stuffed full of birding guides, mosquito spray, patches that proudly display where you’ve birded, and a granola bar for energy? For some of us that is an accurate description [add in a scope over the shoulder and a digital camera around the neck or in one of the vest pockets], but for the vast majority, a birder is a person who is just interested in watching some of God’s most delightful little creatures. I’ll bet that includes most of you. You may not know the scientific or even common name of all the birds you watch, but it doesn’t make you any less of a birder. If you are fascinated by the birds that can’t wait for you to till the garden, or you put out bird seed or suet or maybe even put up a birdhouse; if you take note of a soaring hawk as you drive the country roadsides, or you laugh at the antics of a little sandpiper chasing the waves at the beach, you are part of the ever-growing birdwatchers family. There is a close connection between gardeners and birders. You can’t spend time outdoors cultivating without being at least curious about the birds, butterflies, and other little creatures that are part of the life cycle. Some gardeners even plant particular flowers, bushes, or trees for the specific purpose of attracting birds and butterflies. Color is part of what attracts many gardeners to their plants, and the fabulous colors of birds are part of what entices the birder to spend hours outdoors. This little fireball of a bird, a Vermilion Flycatcher, draws your attention as quickly and intently as a winter rose. We ran a thread in the Birding Buddies section of Gardenbuddies just to show how the color of plants and birds complement each other. The colors of this gorgeous little Bluebird are mirrored in the East Texas wildflowers, Crimson Clover and Blue Cornflowers. A little singing Dickcissel’s yellow and brown are echoed in the field of Sunflowers where he spends time. Once you begin to notice the birds, the next step in this “addictive” activity is wanting to know just a little more about the bird. What’s its name? Does it come here the same time each year? What kind of food is it looking for in my garden or yard? Do they nest around here? Beware if any of those questions start creeping in to your mind. You may find yourself wanting to purchase a birder’s guide. Once you get one of those in your hands, it may be too late. You may be hooked. My first guide (and the one I still keep my birding journal in) was a GoldenBook Birds of North America. It is so simple to use. Of course, there are dozens of excellent guides on the market. One which is currently very popular is the Sibley’s. With or without a guide, you may be surprised just how many backyard birds you already recognize. Just for fun, see how many of these 10 US garden birds you can correctly identify. You get points even if you can just say the generic name like finch, woodpecker, sparrow. How did you do? Better than you thought, I bet. Maybe it will get your curiosity stirred just enough to learn a bit more about the more than 650 birds that nest in the U.S. and the more than 8000 species worldwide. And, if you ever start taking photos of our captivating feathered friends, there’s no turning back. Come visit us over in the Birds and their Environment in the Garden, and you’ll find some current devotees from across the globe who are excited about sharing their success in capturing a moment spent with a bird friend. Maybe you'll even find the time to share a photo or two of your own! Written by Dipper