When it comes to bird watching, some of us need look no further than our own back yard. Sure, it’s great to attend birding festivals, travel to exotic birding destinations, and head to the nearest marsh or conservancy to observe our feathered friends. But with a little thought and planning, you can make [...]
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ABA: Advocating for Birds and Birders Alike
Birders: who’s got your back? The ABA does! The American Birding Association (ABA) is a non-profit organization that supports, inspires, and empowers recreational birdwatchers by providing leadership and helping to increase birders’ knowledge and skills. As described in their Mission Statement, the ABA helps to further the enjoyment of birding through publications, [...]
Big White Fun
Not long after friends told us American White Pelicans had been gathering on Lake Wisconsin for the past few days, Dad and I made the half-hour drive to Okee. I brought a camera: I’ve always been a big fan of pelicans.
The winding two-lane county highway that afforded a view of the flock [...]
Why buy the best? Well, why not?
Whether you’re a veteran birder or a beginner shopping for your first binocular, there are some things you ought to know about high-end binoculars. I’m talking about the select few European brands (Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss) whose reputations for quality and craftsmanship have kept them at the top of the heap in terms of performance [...]
Attracting Young People to Birdwatching
Birdwatching and the general age of birders hasn’t changed much over the years. Though young people have, in recent years, started to show an interest in birdwatching, the majority of the demographic still consists of seniors.
The Audubon Society is working to attract even more of the younger generation to birdwatching. Marketplace, the nationally syndicated [...]
Walking with Ozzie
As soon as Ozzie and I left the house, we could hear Canada Geese. Making our way from under tree cover, we could see numerous V’s of the birds cruising over the open lowlands surrounding the Crawfish River. For an older golden retriever, Ozzie showed a youthful eagerness, pulling at the leash as [...]
Winter Winding Down
In this part of southern Wisconsin, we have had 64.7 inches of snow so far this winter (the normal average for this date is 39″). It has been a fabulous winter for those of us who thrive on winter sports or just love the spectacle of being in a real, live snow globe.
During the [...]
Binoculars for Beginning Birders
What is a birder’s best friend? Their binocular, of course! Whether you’re a beginning birder or a seasoned expert, your binocular is the crucial tool needed to bring in the details of birds for closer inspection. Since part of the fun of birding is to study and identify birds, a high-quality binocular [...]
Be Part of It: The 14th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
Want to be part of something big? If you live in the U.S. or Canada, you are invited to participate in the 14th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) by counting birds in your area any day (for at least 15 minutes) from Feb. 18-21, 2011.
Even if you don’t have a backyard, you may [...]
A Family’s Eagle Quest
I recently delighted in an encounter with a family–a mother and her two children who had taken a keen interest in birding. The woman brought her kids into the store, a boy and a girl, both under 10 years of age. The siblings had a day off from their northern Illinois school and [...]
