Young/female birders:

Well, I'm just not sure if I can pick out definite reasons for the lack of
'hotshot' female birders. I just started birding last year (is it 1995
already?!), due to the influence of a very talented local bird owner/watcher.
If it wasn't for her, I'd still be thinking "wonder what that brown bird is".
Now I think "Hey - where's my bird book? Binocs? Stay still! wait! don't fly
away! Ack!". So far, I've seen about an even split in the sex of birders.

Almost all of the volunteers that I've met while working at the Audubon office
in Seattle, though, have been female. Only one male volunteer spotted so far.
And this was on the weekend, so none of this "more women stay home and don't
work" theory! (although during the week I can see that point) The customers
that come in are about a 50/50 split.

I'd say women are still getting sidetracked by family commitments. Can't go
dashing off to the Columbia River to see a gull, if little Joey has a cold and
little Julie broke her arm while dirtbiking and Daddy is working/absent/asleep.
Also can't give 10 hours a week to working through the 'politics' of volunteer
organizations, if you also have to clean house, raise kids, work, put yourself
through grad school, and actually *see* a bird. (not in that particular order,
mind you!)

I'm going to go battle my way through the canadian geese and go home.

Susan Collicott
susan at pmel.noaa.gov