Photo: Mottled Duck, Larry Temple/Audubon Photography Awards
Tom Blackburn
A few days ago, my wife and I were on a boardwalk in southwest Florida peering through binoculars at a flock of distant birds. We had spent 5 days in the state, and this was our last chance at seeing a Mottled Duck, a bird that we hadn’t seen before.
eBird, the online database of bird observations created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, improved our chances of seeing a Mottled Duck. We had come to the boardwalk because another birder had reported on eBird that 42 Mottled Ducks were visible from that spot earlier that day. We were in luck. The ducks were still there, as were several other wading bird species.
Mottled Ducks, Larry Temple/Audubon Photography Awards
Later, I reflected on why I enjoy birding. Although I am certainly not an expert, searching for birds adds another dimension to my enjoyment of nature because I focus more intently on my surroundings. Birding is like a treasure hunt but one where the treasure keeps moving. To claim the “treasure,” you have to see or hear the bird and also identify it. With more than 1,100 bird species in the United States and over 10,000 species worldwide, there is always a new bird to discover.
Of course, you can see all sorts of other things while looking for birds. During our five days in Florida, we saw innumerable tropical plants, River Otters, Manatees, Gopher Tortoises, butterflies, armadillos, several varieties of lizards, and – closer than we would have liked – a 5-foot-long Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in full “threat” mode.
ASNV, like its parent organization National Audubon Society, does far more than simply promote birding. We are engaged in environmental advocacy, conservation, education, citizen science and native landscaping for wildlife habitat. Birding may be pure outdoor fun and adventure but we need to protect birds so that we can share the enjoyment of birding with our entire community now and for many future generations.
If you are new to birding or want to try it, ASNV is currently hosting bird walks geared to novice birders once or twice each month. We also have many partners who invite an even wider audience to birding. You can find out more about local bird walks here. Take advantage of our rich habitat and welcoming bird community. Go birding!