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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 12 - 16, 2003 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 12 - 16, 2003 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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There is more to watching birds than merely keeping lists of birds that you have seen. In fact, there's much more. With an inquisitive mind, watching behavior offers an intriguing glimpse into the lives of birds. The aim is to not only witness new behaviors but more importantly, to decipher what the birds are actually doing. Of course, many birders, while out in the field, have taken notice of some special bird behaviors, but few observers attempt to understand what they are seeing. Those of you who have are likely to agree with me that the experience is very satisfying.
In 1997, a small group of behavior watchers got together to promote an interpretive approach to birdwatching. Shortly thereafter, the Interpretive Birding Bulletin was launched to help enthusiasts acquire a working knowledge of avian behavior. Interpretive birding doesn't require an advanced degree in behavioral ecology or fancy equipment, just the patience to watch long enough (5 or 10 minutes) for events to unfold. Beginners may at first be interested in identifying new behaviors while advanced birders focus on interpreting what the birds are doing.
Unlike other styles of birding, as your skills and knowledge improve, the challenge offered by interpretive birding keeps pace.
Every species exhibits behaviors that are particularly conspicuous, perhaps unique. We call these Notable Behaviors in the Interpretive Birding Bulletin. Many birders, in fact, get started watching behavior by keeping a list of the notable behaviors they have seen. Listing behaviors is only the beginning. After a bit of practice, you'll find yourself comparing the behavior of different species. This is when interpreting behavior gets interesting. Making comparisons across species is a powerful technique for generating ideas and interpretations. It's also fun. It works because most species are confronted with similar problems. To aid behavior watchers, mini-reviews covering distinctive types of behaviors are regularly published in the Interpretive Birding Bulletin.
Interpretive birding offers drama, challenge and adventure. Learning to trust your own eyes, ears and impressions is a requisite for getting the most out of behavior watching. It is worthwhile to spend some time watching a new bird or behavior before consulting a reference that could prejudice your observations. Still, a good reference library can provide useful baseline information and often, provide fresh insights. By adopting an interpretive approach to birdwatching, you'll continually discover new behavior and encounter unexpected spectacles of nature no matter where you watch birds.
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