Do You Know The Technical Name For Bird Watching?

March 31st, 2008 Posted in Bird Watching

Are you are a nature lover? Are you amazed at the miracle of Mother Nature? Do you frequent national parks, nature reserves, or bird sanctuaries to enjoy the wonders of bird watching? Visiting these places can be very enjoyable, and it can also be a great stress reliever. It can also be very educational – finding out about various species of birds can be a very interesting and rewarding past time.

Birding is a term that is often used for bird watching. It can be considered as the technical name for bird watching. It is a hobby enjoyed by millions of people – from nature enthusiasts to photographers. There is, however, some disagreement about the terms ‘birding’ and ‘bird watching’.

Birding Versus Bird Watching

There has been an ongoing debate regarding the technical name for bird watching for some time now. American and British birders tend to distinguish themselves from bird watchers by their level of involvement and dedication. Birders insist that they seek knowledge about the birds, whereas bird watchers merely look at the birds for enjoyment. Birders learn about the migration habits, natural habitats, and other interesting facts about the birds. Dedicated birders travel extensively to track down certain birds, whereas, according to birders, bird watchers have a much more limited scope, for example, their gardens, public parks in their surrounding areas, etc. Essentially, birding and bird watching is the same thing and the level of involvement is largely determined by the individual.

Birding, or bird watching, entails the observing and studying of various species of birds through the naked eye or with visual enhancers such as binoculars. Most birders (or bird watchers) pursue this as a hobby; they do it for enjoyment or recreational reasons. Birders should not be confused with ornithologists. Ornithologists are concerned with the scientific, or formal, study of birds. They are ‘bird scientists’.

Are You Interested In Birding As A Hobby?

If birding (the technical name for bird watching) sounds interesting to you and you would like to pursue it as a hobby, there are numerous clubs or organizations that are dedicated to birding or bird watching that you could join. These clubs are organized by birding enthusiasts who can teach you valuable information regarding a multitude of species of birds, and also about the equipment, etiquette, and competitions that are involved in the hobby.

Reputable organizations include the British Trust for Ornithology and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom, the National Audubon Society and American Birding Association in the United States, and BirdLife International – a global alliance of bird conservationists.