I've been an amateur birder since I was a child. My grandmother started teaching me when I was about 6 years old. I have a very old, worn hardback copy of Peterson's guide where I have documented...
I've been an amateur birder since I was a child. My grandmother started teaching me when I was about 6 years old. I have a very old, worn hardback copy of Peterson's guide where I have documented my 'gets'. I am a low-level birder. I recognize some calls, I am completely lost when trying to identify warblers but I enjoy it. My best 'get' in recent years was a Snowy Owl that had me so excited I couldn't sleep.
I've also dabbled in photography.
I always look forward to this contest publication. Whether or not you are into birding, photography or not, if you enjoy nature, this is always a treat.
Thank you for sharing this! My Dad's been pretty seriously embracing photography as a hobby for the last 5 or 6 years and has recently gotten more into birding and bird photography so I was...
Thank you for sharing this! My Dad's been pretty seriously embracing photography as a hobby for the last 5 or 6 years and has recently gotten more into birding and bird photography so I was excited to share this with him.
Even though my Dad's getting into it, I don't know anything about birding. I'd love to hear more about what your grandmother taught you!
Your Dad has a challenge. Capturing birds, animals, insects, etc. is highly rewarding but quite difficult. If he can, he should invest in a big zoom and a macro lens (among others). He'll have the...
Your Dad has a challenge. Capturing birds, animals, insects, etc. is highly rewarding but quite difficult. If he can, he should invest in a big zoom and a macro lens (among others). He'll have the time of his life I feel confident in saying.
My grandmother started with the year-round common birds in our areas. She would point out a Robin, then she would point out a chickadee. She would makes games out of it, how many did I see that day for example. Then she would ask me to draw a bird, ask me what was the difference between the chickadee and the robin. She would then get into their habits, nesting, food sources, etc. Of course she would add new birds along the way.
She was an amazing woman, I honor any time I get a chance. She instilled in me early a love and interest in nature and the environment, among other things. She was a strong and independent woman, my life would be substantially poorer without her influence.
Thank you for sharing! It sounds like that was a wonderful experience with your grandma. Not to mention what an amazing life-long gift she's given you! I know some of the local birds around where...
Thank you for sharing! It sounds like that was a wonderful experience with your grandma. Not to mention what an amazing life-long gift she's given you! I know some of the local birds around where I live, but certainly not all and I don't know anything about them. It must be really nice to know more about the natural world your living in and sharing!
I meant to reply directly to you in a post I made this morning about resources for beginners and how to get into birding but put it as a stand-alone comment. sorry!
I meant to reply directly to you in a post I made this morning about resources for beginners and how to get into birding but put it as a stand-alone comment. sorry!
I am very happy this post created some interest in birding and photography. Each is a wonderful hobby and I might add are engaging and relaxing all at once. First I'll add a few online resources....
I am very happy this post created some interest in birding and photography. Each is a wonderful hobby and I might add are engaging and relaxing all at once.
First I'll add a few online resources. Wherever you are located, there are local photography and Audubon chapters that can provide you with direction for your particular area. Many also offer bird walks and other activities to help along the way. This is a pursuit that can become life-long with no barriers to age, income, gender, location, etc. Even in very large urban areas, there are activities and much to learn. I will also add it is one which only as demanding as you make it. Over the years I had periods of intensive interest and activity to extremely casual and completely undirected. For parents, it is an activity with your children that is both bonding and learning experiences be it indoors or outdoors. Often you can couple birding with other interests and activities.
https://www.audubon.org/birding
This link is full of fantastic information for beginners. Also included are germane interesting articles.
I've been an amateur birder since I was a child. My grandmother started teaching me when I was about 6 years old. I have a very old, worn hardback copy of Peterson's guide where I have documented my 'gets'. I am a low-level birder. I recognize some calls, I am completely lost when trying to identify warblers but I enjoy it. My best 'get' in recent years was a Snowy Owl that had me so excited I couldn't sleep.
I've also dabbled in photography.
I always look forward to this contest publication. Whether or not you are into birding, photography or not, if you enjoy nature, this is always a treat.
Thank you for sharing this! My Dad's been pretty seriously embracing photography as a hobby for the last 5 or 6 years and has recently gotten more into birding and bird photography so I was excited to share this with him.
Even though my Dad's getting into it, I don't know anything about birding. I'd love to hear more about what your grandmother taught you!
Your Dad has a challenge. Capturing birds, animals, insects, etc. is highly rewarding but quite difficult. If he can, he should invest in a big zoom and a macro lens (among others). He'll have the time of his life I feel confident in saying.
My grandmother started with the year-round common birds in our areas. She would point out a Robin, then she would point out a chickadee. She would makes games out of it, how many did I see that day for example. Then she would ask me to draw a bird, ask me what was the difference between the chickadee and the robin. She would then get into their habits, nesting, food sources, etc. Of course she would add new birds along the way.
She was an amazing woman, I honor any time I get a chance. She instilled in me early a love and interest in nature and the environment, among other things. She was a strong and independent woman, my life would be substantially poorer without her influence.
Thank you for sharing! It sounds like that was a wonderful experience with your grandma. Not to mention what an amazing life-long gift she's given you! I know some of the local birds around where I live, but certainly not all and I don't know anything about them. It must be really nice to know more about the natural world your living in and sharing!
There are some ridiculously gorgeous shots in there. Wow.
What I particularly like about this contest is it includes amateurs as well as professional photographers.
These are incredible! Have got me very interested in birding.
I meant to reply directly to you in a post I made this morning about resources for beginners and how to get into birding but put it as a stand-alone comment. sorry!
I am very happy this post created some interest in birding and photography. Each is a wonderful hobby and I might add are engaging and relaxing all at once.
First I'll add a few online resources. Wherever you are located, there are local photography and Audubon chapters that can provide you with direction for your particular area. Many also offer bird walks and other activities to help along the way. This is a pursuit that can become life-long with no barriers to age, income, gender, location, etc. Even in very large urban areas, there are activities and much to learn. I will also add it is one which only as demanding as you make it. Over the years I had periods of intensive interest and activity to extremely casual and completely undirected. For parents, it is an activity with your children that is both bonding and learning experiences be it indoors or outdoors. Often you can couple birding with other interests and activities.
https://www.audubon.org/birding
This link is full of fantastic information for beginners. Also included are germane interesting articles.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478
This is a general resource for birding. It has a section for identifying birds solely by their calls, I love/use this site often.
https://www.audubon.org/about/chapters
This is a link to Audubon chapters
and finally, here is a small list of movies (serious and comedic) about birding and birders.
https://www.audubon.org/news/birdist-rule-74-watch-some-movies-about-birding
Thanks for this!