Birdwatching Isn’t Just a Hobby: Here’s 4 Reasons Why
When mentioning birdwatching, people often think of the crazy fanatics who travel to the ends of the earth for a certain pigeon, or well, you know what!
But what if I told you it's not all black and white? There's a grey area where the casual and hardcore bird enthusiasts have more in common than meets the eye.
In this post, we’re going to explore 4 of the most unexpected and equally important bonuses that are sure to get you in a flap!
From understanding how watching our avian friends can lead to meaningful relationships to expanding our own knowledge about life itself.
This post has it all, well not really but you get the idea.
Let's dive in.
Natural Featherapy
We all know spending time in nature can reduce our stress levels and anxiety, but few ever talk about birdwatching.
Unlike other outdoor activities, birding requires us to be quiet and still for prolonged periods of time, like a form of active meditation.
As a casual watcher myself, I find myself completely immersed in the present, all senses tuned to the sights and sounds of the natural space.
And with my attention being occupied by looking at our feathered cuties, I enter a serene mindful state where the stresses of everyday life disintegrate.
Yet it doesn't end there, if we're busy getting lost in a forest looking for a capercaillie, we can embrace the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
Shinrin-yoku is the practice of absorbing the natural atmosphere of a forest or natural environment, focusing on the sensory engagement to connect with nature. It’s so important that doctors in Japan can prescribe this to patients who have low mental health.
Not to mention, birdwatching encourages us to gain a deeper relationship with the environment. By observing birds' vast array of behaviours and life patterns brings us closer to our natural roots, reminding ourselves that we aren't alone in our life's journey.
Contributing to Conservation Efforts
Do you wish that you could make a difference while you’re on the beach watching some plovers? Well, look no further than citizen science.
Citizen science is the act of scientific research being conducted with the participation of the general public, essentially making us into voluntary nerd puppets!
Organisations such as the BTO, (British Trust for Ornithology) and The Cornell Lab both have pages about citizen science with further information on how to get involved and a FAQ section.
By contributing data on bird sightings and behaviour, volunteers can help scientists collect the facts more efficiently than would be possible otherwise.
Take for example, the RSPB holds an annual weekend event called the Big Garden Birdwatch, where the public submit their observations to provide insights of how the UK's garden birdies are faring.
Next up, we're going to discover the physical benefits we can all gain from staring at our beaked wonders compared to being a potato bingeing on the TV!
Birding Gets Us Active
It's no secret that people love their TV, sometimes too much. It's easy to find ourselves comfy on the couch, bingeing our favourite shows or being immersed in endless gaming sessions, (that's me).
But what if there was a way to escape these convenient digital vacations and engage in something in real life that gets us moving?
That’s where birdwatching introduces itself, birding is like an open-world video game but instead it’s us that’s travelling to different places with a main objective: locate the elusive buzzard in the dark forests of Scotland.
Well, it might not look precisely like that but I'm sure you're catching my drift here.
Also, I'm not here to say "being outside is great for our physical and mental health," while this is true, I'm not going to bore anyone with the same details we hear about constantly.
Instead, I'll mention something I believe is equally important: hard work and reward.
When visiting places new or familiar, they all have their own inventory of species available, meaning we may find ourselves hiking up a mountain or traversing across the world just to see a certain bird.
While doing these things are good by themselves, say, if you're wanting to camp in Sweden, the wildlife is still going to be there, so it's a good excuse to go and appreciate it!
So, rather than remaining a procrastinating potato endlessly playing Halo, why not embrace bird watching as an opportunity to get more active and begin your own outdoor adventure?
It’s a good reason to go and complete our bucket lists while simultaneously improving overall wellbeing.
Sometimes, the most rewarding experiences are those we work hardest for.
Exp-hen-ding Our Knowledge
At its core, birdwatching is an exercise in observation, but it goes beyond just sitting and staring at some guillemots on a cliff’s edge.
Due to its multifaceted qualities, it also serves as a launch pad for continuous learning, one such example is what the pros call a jizz.
A jizz is essentially a basic profile of any group of birds, based on its behaviours, calls, colour patterns, and so forth. Ultra bird nerds use this to quickly predict what family and species a given sighting is or could be.
While we may not be a 'pro', there's still an opportunity to learn from its concept of differentiating the various specific aspects of similar birds.
However, it stretches our minds beyond just being able to recognise a woodpigeon from a stock dove.
It makes you understand their amazing migratory feats across the globe and feeding patterns that provide insights to the broader ecosystem's health and function.
Developing this information (mostly accidentally), opens doors that we didn't know about previously, such as a deeper scientific understanding of biodiversity and possibly interests in studying ornithology.
Another intriguing feature is the cultural significance of certain bird species. As we continue to dive deeper into the realms of birding, you may stumble across stories, myths, and folklore associated with it.
Did you know it's good luck if you get pooped on by a pigeon?
Now don't take my word on that, let's just leave it as a tale shall we?
Caw-clusion
Birdwatching, as we've discovered, is more than just a pastime to stare at grass all day. It's a portal into a world of exploration, a concoction of therapy, science, and hiking!
As we navigate our way through the forests and open fields, with the diligence of a ninja, let's not forget that birding is not just about the destination but the journey also.
The exhilaration of trekking up mountains to the peace of being alone in nature, these are the moments that make it worthwhile.
So, whether you're a casual observer or a master in the making, remember that every breath in birdwatching is a step into broadening our horizons. An adventure is not just about seeing, experiencing is equally as meaningful.
If you’ve got this far in the post I’ll give you my trophy! 🏆
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