As we continue the series of “ways to connect with Nature”, why not consider the amazing hobby that is Birdwatching…..
So what’s so good about watching birdlife?
- PHYSICAL FITNESS.
- GREAT CARDIO. Speaking of hiking, it’s a great cardiovascular activity. …
- REDUCES STRESS. …
- INCREASES MENTAL FITNESS. …
- MORE BIRDS = LESS DEPRESSION & ANXIETY. …
- MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION. …
- IT MAKES YOU A BETTER PERSON. …
- COMMUNITY.
10. Birds are all around us. No matter where you live, there are birds around you. Perhaps not a great number of birds, perhaps not many bird species, but they are there. In some places, such as many urban areas, other wildlife is hard to find or nonexistent, but you can always find birds.
9. It’s a connection with nature. Human beings are not alone in the world. But in modern society our contacts with our fellow creatures are artificially constrained. We need to be in some way connected to nature and other living creatures:
8. Birds get us outside. Anything we do, from a demanding hike in the woods to a bird walk with a local bird club to just going out to clean or fill the bird feeders, is beneficial—mentally and physically—because it takes us outside and gets us moving.
7. It’s a “flexible” pastime. Bird watching is a hobby you tailor to fit yourself; you can be as involved in it as you want to be. You may start watching birds or feeding them in your yard, learn to identify some of your backyard birds and become familiar with their habits—and that’s enough to add a whole new element of interest and enjoyment to your daily life.
6. It’s economical. Again, because the extent of your involvement is up to you, so is the cost of being involved. No expensive equipment is necessary to enjoy watching birds – you can do it with nothing at all, but all you really need is a good field guide ( your local library has these too ) and a reasonable pair of binoculars.
5. You can gain new friends. Bird watchers are, for the most part, the friendliest, most helpful, and most interesting people around ….
4. Birds can be enjoyed year-round. Unlike many interests or hobbies, birding is non-seasonal. It might change with the seasons: Spring is prime migration and nesting-bird time; summer is seeing and hearing young birds, watching our local breeding birds before they’re gone again, and enjoying hummingbirds; fall migration brings its own excitement and changes in bird populations; and in winter we can enjoy feeding birds and watching the birds that over-winter in the area. There is always something interesting to see and something to anticipate. Watching birds year-round keeps us in tune with the seasons too.
3. It often leads down other paths. Watching birds in many cases sparks involvement in other interests…gardening for birds; watching butterflies, dragonflies are other examples.
2. Bird watching “Once you develop an interest in birds, it doesn’t go away—you’re hooked for good. Your habits might change, and you might bird in different ways than before, but the fascination doesn’t fade. Birds are lovely, their songs and calls are the “background music” of our lives, and they engage in complex and fascinating behaviors. They add an element of beauty to our days that doesn’t fade with time. “
1. It promotes habitat conservation. Being interested in birds keeps us learning; always wanting to know more and to understand more. The study of birds invariably touches on a number of other subjects, among them biology, history, geography, sociology, and politics… The more you learn about birds, their needs, and the challenges and even crises many species face … you’re very likely to become in supporting wildlife habitat conservation and restoration efforts.
“Developing an interest in birds quickly reveals just how intimately connected we are with earth’s other inhabitants. All living creatures are interdependent, but humans need birds in the world much more than they need us. Bird watchers, then, have the power to preserve and improve the planet for generations yet to come.”
( Source : Sources : https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/top10/top-10-reasons-bird-watcher.php )
Birdwatching has experienced a real boom during the coronavirus pandemic
Joe Harkness can attest to birds and positive mental health – visit Bird Therapy
Coming up – Birdwatch
