Bird Watching Gifts For The Bird Watching Enthusiast
January 17, 2008
Bird watching has become a very popular hobby because it’s not only interesting and fun, but because it is an educational experience that the entire family can participate in, too. If a friend or family member you know likes this hobby, then the list below will help you find the perfect bird watching gifts for them when you are looking.
Bird Watching Gear
Because bird watching can be done throughout the year, there are pieces of gear that would help guard you from the sunshine in the summer and the cold in the winter. One particular piece of bird watching gear would be a hat or cap to guard your head. Long pants with lots of pockets, such as cargo pants, so that bird watchers would have places to put their hobby’s various items would be another great piece of gear that is important.
Bird Watching Binoculars
The majority of bird watchers usually own a pair of binoculars. However, with the variety of binoculars that are available there is certain to be an upgraded version that the bird watcher would love to have. If the upgraded type of binoculars are too expensive, as they certainly can be, you may consider purchasing them a new case to protect their present pair of binoculars or a new strap to keep their binoculars more comfortably close to them rather than bouncing around when out walking.
A bird watching journal is another one of those great bird watching gifts. It is where a bird watcher can record information about the types and numbers of birds that they saw. A bird watching book or guide is also a wonderful bird watching gift. Every bird watcher loves to get a good guide that shows the pictures and lists the characteristics of the many different birds.
Digital cameras and video cameras are great bird watching gifts. With the various models that are available, you are sure to find one that will be suitable for your bird watching friend. Bird baths and bird feeders are other bird watching gifts that you may want to consider if they don’t have these already.
Bird Watching Vacation
If the person that you are buying the bird watching gifts for is someone special to you, such as a spouse or family member, you may consider a bird watching vacation to an exotic location like Costa Rica or to watch Bald Eagles and Trumpeter Swans on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
To make the bird watching gifts seem even more special, especially if it is an expensive item, you will want to make sure that the person does not already possess one of the items already.
All ages of people find that bird watching is not only relaxing but it is also entertaining. If you haven’t tried it yet yourself, go into your backyard or a nearby park and just watch the birds for a few minutes. You’ll probably find that this is a fun and addictive hobby and the next bird watching gifts that you buy might just be for you personally!
For more bird watching tips and a free subscription to my bird watching newsletter, just go to http://www.greatbirdwatchingtoday.com an instructive website that provides birdwatcher advice, tips and resources including information on birdwatching binoculars, clothing, tours and equipment.
Bird Watching & How To Attract Birds To Your Home
January 17, 2008
What is the most valuable tool for bird watching? That’s simple, a bird feeder. Just as the name implies, a bird feeder is a device that is placed outdoors for the purpose of dispensing food to birds. This type of product is usually installed for the purpose of bird watching, which is a very popular hobby. The ultimate success of a bird feeder is determined by it’s placement, the types of seeds provided and the design of the feeder itself.
To begin with, a bird feeder must be large enough to accommodate the nearby species. Birds need to be able to get to the seeds easily if they are to continue to use the bird feeder. In addition, the feeder should be placed somewhere convenient and easily accessible for both the birds and for bird watching. Most bird feeders are located in a tree that birds are known to frequent. In some instances, individuals may also opt for hanging a bird feeder on their porch, which will allow for a real close up view for bird watching enthusiasts.
The type of bird that you wish to attract will ultimately determine the type of food that you supply in the bird feeder. For example, while most food is made in the form of seeds, hummingbirds prefer liquid nourishment. This is a very important distinction as bird feeders are created for bird watching and, without the proper food, there may not be any birds to watch.
Many people around the world enjoy bird watching and some even record their experiences on video. Some individuals use webcams, while others use a regular camcorder to capture their birds on film. Photographers often enjoy bird watching for fun and profit. As birds get close enough to enjoy the food in their feeder, photos can be snapped in hopes of capturing their beauty. With all of the bird food in your yard, don’t be surprised if you happen to catch a squirrel in your photographs. These little critters love bird food and are often drawn to areas where it is readily available. The best way to remedy this problem is to put a separate squirrel feeder outside to deter squirrels from snatching all of the bird food as it falls to the ground.
A bird feeder is easy to find at any retail or online store, but the many choices available may make the decision a difficult one. Ultimately, the size of the feeder and it’s design will be the most important consideration. The next thing to consider will be your bird watching budget because, as we all know, cost plays a large role in every purchasing decision that we make.
To get more facts about bird watching, check out our website at http://www.bird-watching-guide.info for lots of free bird watching information and reviews.
Bird Watching For Elderly People – Helping To Keep You Young At Heart
January 17, 2008
There are a vast number of people who are wild about their bird watching hobby. Bird watching for elderly people is a great hobby to get involved in because it is a rewarding and relaxing pursuit. It is a well liked activity by many elderly people. Bird watching for elderly people does not require a great deal of energy to be spent hiking around many different terrains throughout the world. In fact, bird watching for elderly people is often best enjoyed right in your own backyard. In the backyards of friends and bird watching group members could also be a locale for bird watching for elderly people.
Making New Friends
Bird watching for elderly people is one of those hobbies that can be a way to enjoy the company of others. In most cities and towns you will find quite a few other bird watching enthusiasts. A wonderful way to get introduced to others in the area who are also elderly people is to take up bird watching. As a member of one of these groups you can help to plan outings which are suitable for the different people in the group based on interests and abilities. There will be some who will want to stay close to home to bird watch. And those with a little more energy and desire to bird watch farther away can do so, too.
Bird Watching For Elderly People Brightens One’s Day
The various bird species provide wonderful sights and sounds for elderly people to enjoy while bird watching. All the different birds are beautiful in their own way and the sounds that they make are very enjoyable to listen to. For elderly people wanting to stay closer to home to bird watch, considering a garden which is designed to attract birds would be a good idea. A water feature, such as a bird bath, will help to attract birds to your yard. Throughout the day birds are hunting for food and will fly to the areas that provide them with food to eat. Putting up a couple of different types of bird feeders will help to attract many species of birds. As well, bringing birds to your yard will be greatly enhanced by having different types of trees and shrubs.
Bird watching for elderly people can often be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s own backyard by making it an inviting space for the birds. Getting your binoculars, journal, guide book and a cup of coffee out while sitting in your comfortable lounge chair is a great way to enjoy bird watching. You may even find other bird watchers knocking on your door to bird watch with you once they discover that you have made a very inviting place for the birds to enjoy and live.
The Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival in Utah
January 17, 2008
Coming up on its eighth year, the Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival is good get away for birders. Of course, a chance to visit Salt Lake City isn’t so bad either.
Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival
The Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival is both a mouthful and a great event. Close to Salt Lake City, but actually centered in Farmington, Utah, the festival is put on by the Davis County Tourism agency and typically runs for five days in the last two weeks of May each year.
As with many birding festivals, the Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival offers workshops for kids and adults. Workshops include everything from building bird houses, birding for kids, and lectures on a variety of bird species with physical birds present.
Of course, field trips are the key to any bird watching festival and Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival doesn’t disappoint. Traditional sighting trips can be taken on land. The added bonus, however, is the fact birders can rent kayaks to float about the lake looking for new life birds.
Common Sightings
While each year will present variations, a birder can expect to see a variety of bird species at the Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival. A variety of Heron, Pelican, Grebe and Cormorant species are plentiful. White-faced Ibis and Snowy Egrets are also often seen as are a variety of geese and ducks. A variety of falcons and hawks are surprisingly plentiful, but there is one prize sure to make it on you life list.
The rare American Bald Eagle lives in the area. Due to low population numbers, there is no guarantee you’ll see one, but at least four sightings occurred at the 2004 festival.
Whether you attend for the chance to see a bald eagle or the chance to meet other enthusiasts, the Great Salt Lake Bird Watching Festival is a good time.
Bird Watching – Writing What You See
January 17, 2008
No bird watcher is complete without his or her bird watching journals. When you go bird watching, you need to keep your life list.
The Life List
If you are or become an avid bird watching enthusiast, you’re going to need to keep records. The reason for this is you want to keep a running list of the various bird species you’ve seen. Since there are a zillion species, the list can become quite long. Frankly, it becomes a life long project that is very enjoyable. Trust me, you’ll start planning vacations and trips around it. A business trip will soon evolve into a chance to see new species.
Part and parcel to your bird watching life list is your journal. Some bird watchers combine these two while others keep them separate. The bird watching journal is used to fill out your sightings. Information kept in the journal includes things like where you were, whom you were with, the weather conditions, the lighting, time of day and your overall impressions from the sighting.
When keeping your journal and lists, you are going to have sightings of species you’ve seen previously. Most bird watchers will add such sightings to their journals, but not their life lists. The reason for this is there may be peculiar or significant factors in the sighting. Perhaps the bird is not typically found in the area in question or perhaps it is exhibiting some unique characteristic.
New Sightings
When it comes to bird watching, there is no greater joy then sighting a bird you have never seen before. Often called “life birds”, the sighting can be added to your life list and is a feather in your cap. When you first start watching birds, you’ll obviously have a lot of new sighting. As time passes, however, they will become less frequent and you will come to enjoy and value them even more.
Bird watching is an addictive hobby. Part of the thrill is watching your life list grow and reading through your journal of sightings.
Benefits of Bird Watching – A Hobby For Everyone
January 17, 2008
Bird watching is becoming ever more popular across the globe. In both Europe and the USA there are many hundreds of groups that have been created for bird watchers. Whilst some of these groups are smaller meetings of like-minded people, others are extremely large and well organized.
Bird watching is not only a simple and effective stress-reliever it is also intellectually stimulating. There are so many different kinds of bird that the bird watcher has the opportunity to have a new experience each and every time he/she takes time out to go bird watching.
Some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet are to be found close to your home. The graceful nature of birds makes bird watching one of the most rewarding hobbies you can choose. Furthermore, bird watching can be combined with taking exercise and experiencing the beauty of the countryside.
If you are looking for a hobby that the whole family can participate in then bird watching must surely be on your list. Birds pose no threat to children and getting your kids involved can turn your next holiday into an experience that builds ever-stronger bonds within your family unit.
If you feel passionate about our world and the environment, then bird watching can be an effective way to combine a fascinating hobby with action to preserve our planet. By spending some time learning about the patterns of behavior and migration of different types of birds, bird watchers are able to make a significant contribution to the body of knowledge that helps wild life organizations protect and preserve the natural environment.
Birdwatching is the Fastest Growing Recreational Activity in the United States!
January 17, 2008
Bird Watching Is More Popular than Ever!
Bird watching has now become the fastest growing recreational activity in the nation. Government estimates show that an estimated 50 million Americans take part in birding every year! Guided tours will take you into unique areas of the country and show you birds you may never knew existed. In addition, bird feeders and bird baths are more popular than ever, allowing birders to enjoy the local birds in their own back yard!
The Lord God Bird
Nothing has stirred up excitement than the possibility of the re-emergence of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker (or nicknamed the Lord God Bird, from “Lord, God, look at that beautiful bird”). Thought to have been driven to extinction by development and hunting, some scientists may have found this bird in the eastern Arkansas forests. Swarms of bird watchers have joined in the search for this beautiful woodpecker.
It is a large woodpecker with a red and black crest on its head. While the body is black, it has distinguishable white patches on the wings.
Where Should You Bird?
Many beautiful locations exist where a variety of birds can be viewed (not to mention your back yard). Some areas that are recommended include;
- Resurrection Bay (Alaska)
- Ellensburg (Washington)
- Mogollon Rim (Arizona)
- High Island (Texas)
- Bald Head Cliff (Maine)
- Niagara Falls (New York)
- everglades (Florida)
To read more on Bird Watching, please visit Bird Watching USA : Your Guide to Birds
Bird Watching Presents – Christmas Gift Ideas
January 17, 2008
Bird watchers are rabid about bird watching, and rightfully so. If you are looking for Christmas gift ideas for bird watching presents, here are a few keepers.
Bird Watching Presents
As with practically anything in our modern society, there are all kinds of gadgets and unique gifts that make great Christmas gift ideas for bird watching presents.
1. Electronic Bird Identifier – The Electronic Bird Finder is a device that provides you with the ability to recognize bird sounds and appearances through a comparison with a database in the device. Bird appearances are shown on the device and an ear plug lets you listen to bird calls until you match what you are hearing in the wild with a specific bird in the database. About the size of a pager, the device comes in an easy to carry pouch and is built to take a pounding. You can expect to pay $25 to $50. Just search for “electronic bird finder” on the web to find cost options. .
2. Bird Watcher’s Digest – Bird Watcher’s Digest is “the” magazine for bird watchers. Great for beginners and avid birding fanatics, the magazine covers unique bird watching locations, birding tips and reviews of Big Day bird watching events to mention just a few items. A one-year subscription will set you back a whopping $19.95, money well spent when you see your friend or loved one hunkered down on the couch and reading away.
3. Trek Pod – This handy device is so cool it should be illegal. The Trek Pod is a multi-function device that acts as a hiking staff while you cruise around looking for optimal bird watching spots. Once you find the perfect location, the staff converts to a tripod you can mount binoculars, cameras and scopes onto. Oh, WHY didn’t I think of this?! You can expect to pay $135 for the Trek Pod.
4. Nomad Bird Watching Journals – A little self-promotion. Nomad Bird Watching Journals are great gifts for bird watching enthusiast. Whether they enjoy bird watching tours, backyard birding or bird watching vacations, these journals let bird watchers keep track of sightings, conditions, locations, people met and impressions of the birding experience. A great Christmas gift, you can see the journal by clicking the link in the byline of this article and expect to pay $25 for the journal with case.
Bird watching is sweeping the world. Now you know what to buy bird watching enthusiasts for the holidays.
Bird Watching Gifts – Holiday Gift Ideas
January 17, 2008
Bird watching is one of the fastest growing interests in the world. If you’re buying for a bird watcher, here’s a primer on ideas for bird watching gifts.
Bird Watching Gifts
Bird watching may seem the simplest of tasks. In truth, there are lots of gadgets, which gives you an opportunity to find great bird watching gifts
1. Binocular Pack Straps – Where you find bird watchers, you’ll find binoculars. Binoculars are the staple equipment item of all birders. The problem, however, is binoculars have a habit of flopping around your body when walking and putting a strain on your neck. Any bird watcher would love to find a solution and binocular pack straps are the answer. They look like backpack straps and snuggly hold binoculars to your body while you walk. Brunton is a great brand and you can expect to pay $30 or so.
2. The Birder’s Handbook – The Birder’s Handbook is a great companion piece for any birder. Over 600 species are covered and all can be found in North America. This book is an excellent list for bird watching enthusiasts to compare their life lists against. The list price of the book is $20.00 and you can find it at any only bookstore.
3. Bird Cams – If backyard bird watching is the primary bird watching activity of the person your giving gifts to, bird cams are great gifts. The bird cam sits inside of the bird house and lets birders see the birds in action. A fascinating view of a bird’s life. Night-Owl and NovaBird make solid cams. You can expect to pay $80 to $300 for a solid cam.
4. Nomad Bird Watching Journals – A little self-promotion. Nomad Bird Watching Journals are great gifts for bird watching enthusiast. Whether they enjoy bird watching tours, backyard birding or bird watching vacations, these journals let bird watchers keep track of sightings, conditions, locations, people met and impressions of the birding experience. A great Christmas gift, you can see the journal by clicking the link in the byline of this article and expect to pay $25 for the journal with case.
Bird watching is sweeping the world. Now you know what to buy bird watching enthusiasts for the holidays.
