HI:
Actually the first reference I know of for the use of the term Birding in
its modern sense comes from this book: Real Boys and Girls go Birding by
Jack Van Coevering in 1939. Prior to that the term birding was applied to
someone who HUNTED birds. After reading the articles about our ancestor
being an eagle snack I wonder if "birding" could be applied to those that
kept a look out for predatory birds?

--

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"