Birding With The Jays : Birdwatching Adventures & Guide

Birdwatching, simply put, is the ability to observe birds doing bird things in their bird habitat. You can birdwatch at a variety of levels and work your way up or down in complexity, competitiveness and obsession.

Hobby

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos: Julian at South Padre Convention Center, SPI, Texas

Birdwatching is a hobby. For many people, birdwatching brings a sense of enjoyment and pleasure. It makes them happy to see birds feeding in their yard or out on a hike. Just like any hobby, birdwatching can come with a wide array of expenses, if you let it. Even if you might just be birdwatching in your yard, to attract birds you can set out feeders, buy bird food as frequently as you are inclined to and perhaps even install a water feature. You can make birdwatching your hobby as soon as you set your mind to it. Or, just maybe, it will sneak up on you. By the time you know it you will have a pair of binoculars and a t-shirt that says Bird Nerd.

Lifestyle

Photo by Julian Salinas: Jazmin at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico

Birdwatching can be a lifestyle. For some people birdwatching is literally life. They wake up one day, sell their home, sell their belongings and quit their job. They say goodbye to their families -I am not sure if I am kidding about this 🤭. They buy a mobile home or an RV. They travel, like the birds they are looking for, migrating from place to place. This could be in search of a rare bird, a new hot spot, better weather patterns or birding festivals and events. We have met so many people who have given themselves way to live for birdwatching and chasing birds. We aspire to live their lifestyle some day. From the many places we have traveled and the many people we have met, these people seem to be the happiest. You too, can join in on the happiness brought on by the birdwatching lifestyle.

Escape

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos: Sundown at South Padre Convention Center, SPI, Texas

Birdwatching is an escape. For others, birdwatching is where they go to run away. Run away from exhaustion, trauma, sadness, depression. The list goes on. Birdwatching serves as an outlet for people of all backgrounds of life, in search of hope, rejuvenation, inspiration among many other things. Birdwatching can be your escape to the outdoors and into the doors of happiness. While you are out birdwatching your mind gets a rest from the mundane preoccupations that the world has set on our shoulders. You can sit back, relax and enjoy a good unfolding bird drama. You can learn new bird calls, see new colors, learn new names. In the path, you might even make a few new friends and pick up on new places to venture to and paths you did not know existed.

Whatever you want it to be…

No matter what motives you may have for wanting to enter the world of birdwatching, know that there is an exciting community of birders out there ready to share their love, passion and experiences. You can utilize birdwatching in almost which ever way you please for almost whatever reasons you may need. All other birders ask, is to keep the appreciation and respect for our feathered friends alive. Have fun, live a little and try it out. If you choose this is not for you, at least you get to talk about how there are some crazy people out there obsessing over and chasing birds.

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Happy Birding! Love Always,