THE NATURE LOVER'S SPORT
When I was a teenager, I thought a birdwatcher was a nerdy looking guy: skinny, with slicked back hair; horned rimmed glasses, and wearing a plaid suit. You know- someone to laugh at on tv sitcoms! Boy, was I ever wrong. As I grew older, and my love of nature drew me to the parks and forests; I found that I was one!
Yes, I am a birdwatcher; and I love it very much. I can't imagine being out in nature without the sounds of birds. Their beautiful songs are a melody as
sweet as anything I have ever heard. Experience it for yourself! You can
hear the songs of many different North American birds at this site from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. You can also
see photographs of a lot of these birds at the same site.
Once you you start watching birds, you will want to keep a list of the ones you have seen. This is called a life-list. You will add to this list each time you identify a species you have never seen before. I have been keeping
MY LIFE LIST since 1982. The only other things you really need are a pair of binoculars and a field guide- a book that will help you identify your new friends. I recommend the Peterson Field Guide. Depending on where you live, you can get either the East or West of the Rockies version.
Soon, going out to see the birds won't be enough- you will want the birds to come and see you! The best way for that to happen is to put a bird feeder in your yard. Put it where you can see it from a window you look out of often and you will get hours of enjoyment watching "your" birds. If you can't devote the time, energy or funds to your own back-yard feeder, the next best thing is-
SEND A FREE
BIRD PHOTO CARD HERE
The next time you see one of our feathered friends, take a good look at it- it may be a bird you have never seen before. When you're ready to move up from back-yard birding, a great way to become a novice watcher is to go to a local or National Park near you; and go on a "bird walk" with one of their naturalists. He or she will give you some hints on how to spot birds in their natural habitat, and also show you what characteristics to look for when identifying a bird. You'll be spotting your first rare bird before you know it. But for now, just get yourself a field guide and start writing down the birds you see. Before you know it.... you will be a bird watcher too!
BIRDERS HUNT WITH CAMERAS AND CHECKLISTS...NOT GUNS AND BULLETS!
BIRD LOVER'S LINKS
EVERYTHING BIRDING
BIRD WATCHING ON THE WEB
BIRDING ON THE NET
THE BIRDER'S HOME PAGE
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
THE HUMMINGBIRD SOCIETY
"HUMMINGBIRDS!"
ROGER TORY PETERSON ON LINE
WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED
RARE BIRD ALERT PHONE NOS. 
CHICKADEE'S HOME PAGE
PLANTING TO ATTRACT WILDLIFE
PLANTS FOR BIRDS
EVERYTHING BIRDS!!!
HOW BIRDS FLY
BIRDER
HOMEPAGE
THE AVIARY-BIRDING
THE MINING CO'S GUIDE TO BIRDING
FUGLESKUE BIRD WATCH-LOOK!!!
THE CHICKADEE WEB PAGE
CANADAN BIRD YARD
TIPS FOR ATTRACTING & FEEDING HUMMINGBIRDS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM BWD
WATERFOWL I.D.
BIRD SOUNDS
GREAT LINKS FOR BIRDERS
BIRD LINKS
PATUXENT BIRD QUIZ
MARCY'S BLUEBIRDS
NORTH AMERICAN BLUEBIRD SOCIETY
BACKYARD BIRD COUNTS
BIRDWATCH AMERICA
BIRD WATCHING IN ABU DHABI
BIRD LINKS TO THE WORLD
BIRD BATHS, PONDS, MISTERS, & DRIPPERS
ATTRACTING BACKYARD BIRDS
THE NUTTY BIRDER
NATIONAL BIRD-FEEDING SOCIETY
BIRDING ETHICS
BIRD CHECK LIST FOR EVERY STATE
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
HUMMINGBIRD PHOTOS
MICHAEL'S BIRD PHOTOS
BOB ATKINS BLUEBIRD PHOTOS
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS OF MICHIGAN
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY FAQ
SO WHERE CAN I GO BIRDING????
WINGS BIRD WATCHING TOURS
BIRDING IN OREGON
BIRDS OF THE IMPERIAL VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA
BIRDING IN S.E.ARIZONA
BIRDING IN MINNESOTA
