1) You can watch birds anywhere. If you want to watch charismatic megafauna
(=whales)you need to pay some commercial guide service to take you out on
the water . Most land mammals are quite secretive. Birds are cheap and easy,
and the variety is incredible.

2) It's a family thing. My dad was an avid bird watcher in his youth and
throughout his life. He also had a general interest in natural history.

3) It teaches you much more than just bird names and field marks. In
learning bird habitat preferences, you also learn about the other animals
and plants in that habitat. Learning scientific names helps you make other
connections between species as well as the people who may have named them.

4) It's peaceful. You can do it alone. Don't need a team. Don't need a
cheering section.

5) It's sociable. You can do it with others. Learn from each other.

Those are some of my reasons. I'm sure there are others. I just can't recall
them all!


At 04:24 PM 4/16/97 -0700, Jared Malone wrote:
>My mom is seeing someone and this person, Bob, is into birding. I knew that
>he liked too look at birds but I don't understand WHY a person would be a
>birder. After observing this mailing list, I have come to the conclusion
>that the majority of you viewers are serious birders, and I would be
>interested in hearing your thoughts as to why you look for birds, what
>thrills you about seeing a bird, or any thoughts you have about the topic.
>
>
>Jared Malone
>Seattle, Wa (47N 122W)
>Email: jaredm at pemail.net
>
>
>
Michael B. Brown "You don't have to apologise for
13406 125th Av. Ct. E. not knowing the names of the birds
Puyallup, WA 98374 and the stones." -Frank Moorhouse
H-206-841-4281 _ _
W-206-841-8733 (o!o)
C-206-208-9588 ((___))
borealis at borealis.seanet.com " "