The observation and study of birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like binoculars. To members it is often referred to as birding. Birding often involves an auditory component in addition to the optical, because much of birding is identifying both the sound and physical characteristics of a bird.
PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES:
The small size of these countries make quickly traveling to prime bird watching areas much easier, and it is this ease that is one reason for birding being so prevalent in these areas.
EQUIPMENT NEEDS:
binoculars, spotting scope, tripod, notepad, field guides, hides (observation towers), cameras, video cameras,
DEMOGRAPHICS:
countries with populations that are interested in birding include but are not limited to:
the United Kingdom
the Netherlands
Denmark
Ireland
Finland
Sweden
90% of American bird watchers are caucasian with only a few African Americans.
Birders tend to be made up of people with above average means given the relatively high cost of the activity.
INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY WANTS & NEEDS:
there are growing concerns in bird watching communities about the environmental impact.
-phishing is becoming a problem in causing stress to birds
-flash photography is also causing stress among bird populations
-people need to remember to maintain a respectful distance away from the nesting grounds of these birds, as not to disturb their habits.
SYMBOLS (uniforms, tools, markers of activity’s community):
twitcher–one who travels long distances to see a rare bird that would be “ticked” off of a list.
some birders engage in competitions to see who can accumulate the longest list of bird species spotted.
twitchable–a rare bird that stays put long enough for people to see.
binoculars–birders tend to have extreme interest in binoculars and understand that there are definite advantages to a $900 pair as opposed to a $100 pair.
dipped out–when a twitcher fails to see a rare bird that has been marked as twitchable.
supression–concealing news of a rare bird from other twitchers.
phishing–an automated bird call, usually indicating alarm
MOTIVATIONS:
Nikolaas Tinbergen–birding is an expression of the male hunting instinct.
Simon Baron-Cohen–links birding with the male tendency toward systematizing
New York birding study–males were interested in sharing knowledge while females found it intellectual and challenging.
CONTRIBUTIONS:
The activity of birders inherently helps to document migratory patterns of bird species as well as the success or failures of govt. ecological initiatives to foster grow of at risk or endangered species of birds.
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