Why Birding?

If you're curious about nature and want to learn more about what's around you, birding is a great skill and a fun hobby. When you start to take note of the birds around you, you might find yourself more perceptive of other things. You might notice sounds you previously overlooked. You might start to notice small details in your surroundings, like individual trees, insects, fruits, and flowers. You might find yourself more in tune with the passing of the seasons. Birding can be a gateway into recognizing and appreciating a wider world that was there all along.

Here are four great reasons to get into birding today:

• Birding is very low-cost. After the initial investment on a pair of binoculars and an ID guide, the only costs are what you spend on travel and entrance fees.
• You can bird anywhere, anytime. It's a hobby you can do in your back yard or take with you around the world.
• It's very rewarding to see something new, to be able to name what you see, and to make discoveries. It's also only as much work as you want it to be.
• Birding can also be a social activity (or not). Beyond being a fun family activity, birding clubs and park rangers offer programs where you can meet other people and look for birds together, pooling knowledge and providing more pairs of eyes and ears. Even informally, birders generally “flock together" and share notes. But if you'd rather keep to yourself, there's plenty of space to do that, too.