Birdwatching

Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science.

The phrase "bird watching" appeared for the first time as the title of the book Bird Watching by Edmund Selous in 1901.

A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescope, by listening for bird sounds, watching public webcams, or by viewing smart bird feeder cameras.

The Audubon Society was started to protect birds from the growing trade in feathers in the United States while the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds began in Britain.

The American Birding Association was originally started as a club for 'listers', but it now serves a much broader audience.

Twitching is a British term used to mean 'the pursuit of a previously located rare bird.'

Birding in North America was focused in the early and mid-20th century in the eastern seaboard region, and was influenced by the works of Ludlow Griscom and later Roger Tory Peterson.

Prominent national and continental organizations concerned with birding include the British Trust for Ornithology and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom, and the American Birding Association, Birds Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in North America.

Many birders maintain a life list, that is, a list of all of the species they have seen in their life, usually with details about the sighting such as date and location.

Birders may take part in censuses of bird populations and migratory patterns which are sometimes specific to individual species.

Equipment commonly used for birding includes binoculars, a spotting scope with tripod, a smartphone, a notepad, and one or more field guides.

The publication of Roger Tory Peterson's field guide in 1934 led to the initial increase in birding.

Native plants help support our birds throughout the year.

Bird-friendly landscaping provides food, saves water, and fights climate change.