From the Desk of the Park Ranger: Tips for Bird-Watcher-Watching

 
 

Tips for Birder-Watching:

This summer season you may be hoping to spot a few birders in the act of birdwatching. Remember:

  1. Being a birderer requires a great deal of patience and tranquility. Even the lightest chatter can cause a group of birders to scatter, thus initiating their camouflage response, which makes them look almost identical to hikers.

  2. Little is understood about many of the strange behaviors birders exhibit, for example spending hours watching birds.

  3. The best way to break a birder’s camouflage disguise is by asking them, ‘are you a birdwatcher?’ That question usually triggers a particular response where a birder will explain that ‘anyone who takes a moment to marvel at amazing birds can be called a birdwatcher, but birders are much more serious in their pursuit of the hobby of birding.’

  4. Many amateur birders consider themselves citizen scientists, but you don’t have to.

  5. You can blend in with birders by carrying around unnecessarily large binoculars and a tiny book with descriptive pictures of the different kinds of birders.

AdviceEli Ruffernature, bird, birdwatching, outdoors, binoculars, birder