Joys of Birdwatching

Several years ago I realized I was getting a lot of enjoyment from observing the birds around our house. It was a passive activity, not done with any purpose or focus. I was merely spending time on the deck, reading and writing, and over time, I began to note behavior patterns, identify vocalizations, and note preferred habitats.

Jump forward to the last couple of years, when we began to design and build a creative bird-feeding area outside of our dining room window, and the birdwatching has evolved tremendously. I now enjoy this as a hobby, and it’s not just me - my husband is now proudly identifying different species.

Birdwatching is now something we share and grow from together.

Birdwatching is now an activity we can take with us no matter where we go.

And, thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch, our dedicated viewing times provided us the opportunity to identify new species, new behaviors, and new habitats.

I find myself never tiring of the hummingbird war that takes place every season, the annual House Finch baby-booms that take over our feeders, and the excitement of the spontaneous arrival of a flock of Western Bluebirds.

I am so thankful to have discovered a hobby that brings peace, humor, joy, entertainment, and education. And, I can do it for the rest of my life.