Burt: I enjoyed reading your post about why we bird. I think you would like another book about birding by another British author called; How to be a ( Bad ), Birdwatcher; hint, bad doesen't really mean bad. Simon Barnes, the author, takes a very different approach to birding than Cocker. I believe you will find his philosophy much more atuned to your own on why we bird.
Personally, I enjoy birding at all levels. I love the thriill of the chase, and seeing a bird for the first time, and adding it to one of the three life lists I keep. I also enjoy sitting on my deck on a beautiful Srping day, watching the action at my feeders, even though, or, maybe, because, I have seen these birds hundreds of times.
Like you, pehaps, I felt a little tense after reading Cocker's book. It seemed like, accordiing to him, one almost has to be pass through several layers of qualification before calling oneself a birder, and I agree the book seemed to emphasize the sometimes maniacal aspects of " twitching ".
Ultimately, however, the key word should be enjoy. As long as we enjoy whatever type of birding we engage in, cause no harm, and, hopefully, do some good along the way, then, pehaps, the discussion of why, we bird, although interesting, becomes of secondary importance. Those are my thoughts, anyway. Cheers. Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.