A wise man once said, “If you want to live a happy life, it’s quite impossible to do so without having a hobby.” That’s probably why people try all sorts of things to find out what makes them happy or what keeps them passionate and driven.
With the extremely long list of hobbies that you can choose from, we’d like to suggest something that’ll make you fly. If you enjoy nature and everything else that it can offer, this activity is perfect for you. In this article, we’ll introduce you to birdwatching and the most important things that a novice birder should know about it.
What Is Birdwatching?
It is exactly what the name suggests. It is observing wildlife, specifically birds, as a form of recreational activity. While it is perfectly fine that you do it with your naked eyes, some people invest in various equipment to maximize their experience. One part of the activity that’s not explained by its name is that gathering or observing the auditory habits of birds are often involved in this.
Although the term “birdwatching” was probably first heard in 1891, many people have already engaged in the activity years or maybe even decades or centuries earlier. That’s because birdwatching is a rather simple recreational activity.
As we’ve mentioned above, you can try birdwatching even with just your naked eyes. This is more than enough reason for this activity to gather countrywide practitioners of almost 13 million people.
Why Do People Engage in Birdwatching?
The number above is not something we could just take lightly. Thirteen million people are a lot. In fact, that’s almost 4% of the entire United States of America population. This brings forth the questions: Why do people engage in birdwatching? What is it that they get from this activity that forty-eight million people enjoy it?
Promotes Habitat Conservation
Perhaps the best and possibly the most environmentally good outcome of people engaging in birdwatching is how it promotes habitat conservation. That’s because as more people get involved in this activity, more people are also starting to fight to protect these birds’ habitats, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The conservation of birds’ habitats means more trees, and more trees can only bring environmental wellness to any community.
This reason alone is more than enough to support the community of birdwatchers. Setting up a crowdfunding campaign to help preserve the habitat of these birds will go a long way in terms of saving the environment. Additionally, finding an alternative option to GoFundMe that does not charge for the campaign will guarantee that all the funds are directed toward the conservation of the birds’ natural homes.
Reconnect with Nature
Another reason people engage in birdwatching is to get a chance to reconnect with nature. With our lives being almost always in front of the screens of either our mobile phones, computers, or televisions, birdwatching provides us with a venue where we could take a breather. It can also help us pause from the stressors brought about by daily living.
Health Improvement
On the note we’ve stated above, this opportunity to step back and relax refreshes our minds and promotes better mental health. Not only that, but birdwatching also involves walking outside and finding a hotspot for birds. This means that if birds enjoy a certain place, imagine how healthy that location is. You get to exercise and walk around while also inhaling fresh air that’s free of pollution.
All-season Hobby
One good thing about birdwatching is that it’s a rather flexible hobby. Some hobbies tend to be bounded by their season. Swimming, for example, is oftentimes only enjoyed during the summer.
On the other hand, birdwatching has no time, and what’s even more surprising is that you can go about it at your own pace. You can do it in the park, go hiking with some friends and birdwatch, or you can even have your own birdwatching sanctuary right in your backyard!
Social Activity
Birdwatching is also a social activity. As we’ve mentioned before, fifteen percent of people in the USA engage in this activity. This heightens the possibility that one way or another, you’ll come across someone who enjoys it, as well. You may even have a local group of birdwatchers in your community. This is a great opportunity for you to widen your social circle and interact with people who share the same passion as you.
Birdwatching is one of those few recreational activities where you don’t just get to have fun, but you also help the environment. Even if it’s as little as feeding a few birds or as big as helping preserve their natural habitat, birdwatching is indeed an environment-friendly hobby.
