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Bird
Watching
The
correct term for birding or bird watching is ornithology, which is
defined as a hobby involving observing and studying birds. The term
"birding" is of American origin; whereas "bird watching" is
(or was) the commonly usedterm in Great Britain. "Bird watching" is
also the commonly used term
by non-bird watchers in the United States.
The term "birding" is more accurate because visual observation, as
wellas auditory observation, is the generally practiced hobby. The
term "birding"is growing in usage, especially with those devoted to
the hobby.
Spring and fall migration are the best times of the year for birding
in the temperate zones, as the largest variety of birds may be seen.
Many species may be seen as they migrate north or south. Generally
the busiest time of the day for birding is in the morning because
birds are usually at their hungriest during that time and are
actively searching for food and therefore easier to locate and
observe. In order to find the more fascinating species of birds, you
must be knowledgeable of their appearance, sounds, behavior,
and their environment. You also need a great deal of craftiness and
patience.
Birding can be a very tranquil outdoor activity. Although some
birders will travel long distances to seek rare birds or a new
species to add to their list of birds they have personally observed.
These dedicated birders are known as twitchers in Great Britain
because of the frenzy that descends on some when they receive news
of a rare birth. It is thought that the term "twitchers" is derived
from one of birding's early advocates who used to arrive on his
motorbike in freezing weather and was still "twitching" from
the cold. There are birders who compete to compile the largest
species lists. A one-day competition in North American is called a
"Big Day"; in Britain it is called a "Bird Race". Teams trying to
win such a competitionor set the record for their particular region
usually must be in the field for an entire twenty-four hour period.
They commonly drive hundreds of kilometers, and some record-chasers
have hired pilots to fly private jets or helicopters to assist them
in their endeavor.
Equipment most often utilized for birding includes binoculars and a
telescope or a spotting scope with tripod, a notepad, and one or
more field guides. Twitchers will also use a mobile phone and a
pager in order to keep continuously informed of rare bird sightings.
It is also important to know the weather
conditions in your area because the winds can lead to drift
migration.
Twitching is probably most highly developed in the UK, The
Netherlands and Ireland because their coastal locations increase the
chances of rare birds being sighted there. Also the small sizes of
those countries make it possible to reach any part of them
(including most islands) in a few hours. Twitching is also highly
popular in Finland and Sweden.
A particular twitchers' vocabulary exists in the United Kingdom
which is well developed and often confusing for those who are not
familiar with twitching. Comparable vocabularies have increased in
all countries where twitching is popular.
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