Muddy Sneakers

Today I want to approach Let’s Go Outside a little differently and talk about an activity and not recommend a place to visit. Bird watching, or birding, is an easy, fun, and dare I say – educational -  hobby for all ages that can bring you to the remotest places on Earth or simply into your own backyard.

Birding is unique; it’s just as fun to do from your kitchen window as it is in a rain forest, mountain top or desert.  Okay, maybe not much fun as a tropical rain forest, especially now that we in the Northeast are moving into the coldest months of the year, but birding while inside is a great way to deal with Old Man Winter.

Here is a good example: as I did laundry last week, I glanced into the backyard and spotted a bird I’d been looking forward to seeing for years. My Dad, daughter and husband have all seen one, but I had yet to spot it. A Pileated woodpecker! In my own backyard!  The kids later told me they thought I’d spotted a bear, I was yelling so loudly for them to come and see.

For 20 minutes, my children and I watched this beautiful bird flit from tree to tree before she left our view. We got out our birding guides to discuss habit, markings, migration and other woodpeckers. All of this within our warm living room. It’s like having the outdoors brought inside.

This past weekend, we attended a lecture in Bangor, Pennsylvania about Saw-whet owls. We learned how they are captured, banded and tagged for study, plus tracking these wonderful creatures. Of course, we got up close to a Saw-whet and a few other species. The picture below is a Barn owl. My best birder, my 12-year-old girl, flew through all the Guardians of Ga’Hoole books and is a fan of the movie adaptation, Legend of the Guardians. Contact your local environmental center to find birding programs near you.

On Thursday, I’ll have a list of birding websites for The Good Links. Be sure to visit then to learn more about this activity for all ages.

Now it’s your turn:

Do you like birding? Have you ever been on an early morning bird walk or bird count?

Do you consider yourself a serious birder or just a backyard hobbyist with a bird feeder?