30 replies to this topic

[folkeye]

I know this may be weird, but I’m experiencing it….

Anybody ever feel like apologizing profusely for having interest in such a ‘boring’ hobby? Yeah I’m talking birding. I obviously love it, but have the dilemma of nobody else around the that does so. I can’t help but point out a bird I enjoy if I see one wherever I end up, and usually get the ‘I’m not interested’ response and have to shut my trap. Sadly feel embarrassed too.

I do try to partake in Audubon related walks/trips when I can, but don’t have anybody to rely on that likes to get out there and actually enjoy the birds. Sometimes I do want to yell out ‘SORRY I HAVE A SUCH BORING HOBBY’. I know to each their own, but it’s tough. Weird, since there are so many people interested in it and out doing it, I just haven’t had the luck of getting one as a ‘let’s go do some birding!’ friend….yet.

I do have two close friends that’ll get out with me for company and enjoying an outing, so I’m grateful for that. Just with the bird spark would bite them opposed to the humoring me part. Makes me feel bad. Anybody else have that struggle? I know most of us here don’t find birding boring (or at least I hope not, hence you wouldn’t be here) and just wanted somebody to go out with that shares the same interest? Did you find them, or do you just say ‘bah!’ and go out yourself? It’s a very weird struggle, but I’ve been having it.

[EyesOnTheSky]

Never felt the need to apologize. It's no more boring than a 3 hour 1-0 baseball game and I've never heard a baseball fan apologize for their interest (unless they're a Cubs fan that is.) Getting up at 6:00 on a weekend requires dedication and I look at it as a badge of honor that I spent three hours slogging through the woods looking for an elusive 10 gram bird. It requires more discipline then most people have.

It's not for everybody but then again what is?

[folkeye]

I'm not sorry for birding at all. But sometimes when I mention it as something to do you get that 'look'. It's those moments I feel the need for a production. But I've restrained.

[creeker]

I've always been a solo birder. Even my wife only has a passing interest, and that's just because she's a photographer. I haven't had a close friend that's a birder since I was about 10 years old. I'm glad I had friends that were into birding when I was a young child. I'm sure that helped me establish an interest. Lucky for me I enjoy being alone out in the mountains. I can move at my own (usually fast) pace without worrying about anyone else. Plus I work around people all week, it's nice to get out alone.

And don't fret Folkeye, you'll always have us!

[horseface]

I guess I'm pretty lucky then since my friends I met recently weren't into it but thought it was really cool that I was and wanted to go birding with me which has led to me going birding more. I've always preferred to take someone with me. It's fun to show new people stuff for the first time like American Redstarts.

[GreatHorn]

I hear ya folkeye. I can't blame my family for never wanting to go with me. My brother loves weather, and I would be more willing to hop in the car and go chase tornadoes with him than he would be to go looking for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper with me. No young birders that I know of nearby, and no family members liking birds = me being forever alone.

[illin]

I get funny looks when I tell people I am a birder. I just don't fit the mold, it surprise alot of people when they find out. Where I live there are very few people in the hobby, I cherish the moments when I run into another birder in the field. Someone who gets it. But usually the only people who I talk about birding with are online. Sure I tell the Ol Lady when I see a lifer, but other than that I keep it to myself.

But overall I think I enjoy birding by myself most. I can go out and move at my own pace, go where I want to go, and not have to worry about someone else. It is me time. I really don't want someone whispering in my ear what they are seeing. If I miss something, I miss it, big deal. It is my meditation I guess, almost like a religious experience. Me and nature.

[TheGodComplex]

I can understand getting the look, but there are the few who will really appreciate it.

In fact, yesterday, my new English teacher for the year loves nature, and when I told her my personal statement is about birding, she was very happy. My biology teacher also is very happy that I am so into something in biology.

With my peers, though, there definitely are some looks, but I don't care. I love to be out in the fresh air staring at a branch until a bird shows up.

Plus, birds listen when I talk.

[GreatHorn]

Plus, birds listen when I talk.

I hate to break it to you, but for the most part, wild birds are incapable of discerning words in English.
It's okay, you still have me.

[Forestina]

I just started ...but yes people think it is weird, especially my close friends. Luckily my little guy (9 years old) really loves to look at birds so it is something we can do together. My husband is great too and comes along sometimes but if I was not into it, he wouldn't be. I love hiking though and so does he and he is understanding and even at times enthusiastic when we see something new I would just keep going on the local birding walks and possibly a new friend with the same interest will come your way. Until then... you always have us!

[Clip]

This birding thing started with me. I would see something while out driving for my job at the time and I would tell my husband about it. This happened a lot. I got a book to help identify what I was seeing. I started feeding birds in the backyard and I would tell him what I saw while he was at work. He took me to a local lake and we were both amazed at the number of birds we saw. And we have been birding ever since. (still love that lake). Our interest has started to rub off on a couple of friends. And just a little on a stepson and grandkid. I'm hoping that little bit of interest will expand this weekend when we go to a bird band festival at that same lake. Wish us luck!

My husband doesn't enjoy the birds per se as much as I do but likes the walking outdoors. And he does get excited when we see something cool! And he is a good spotter. He has often seen things I would have missed.

I take my dogs to a local dog park often and they have become great companions for me while I bird there. And they are very good dogs. They slow when I ask them to if I see a bird I don't want them to scare off. They wait patiently while I take pictures.

And once in while I go out by myself. I enjoy this also as I can take more time go where I want etc.

[Benjamin DeHaven]

Occasionally my mom will make a trip to Bombay Hook NWR or Blackwater NWR for birding but she just doesn't have the time or the passion I do about birds. We are both photographers but I made the jump from using birds as a subject to wanting to know everything about and see every bird. My most faithful companion is my dog and he travels with me on about 90% of my birding and photography expeditions. He is a Australian Shepherd mix and shows no interest in harassing birds. He has even been within 8 feet of a Great Egret at eye level and all he did was passively look now and then (we were in the car so the bird felt no threat due to that magic that is the "car blind"). I am sure I am much more threatening to birds walking slowly peering up into every tree and thicket and then pointing a big camera in their direction. But Sparky is great company and I would rather be alone anyway. I have so far resisted all invites from local Birding groups to attend bird walks. I am also already used to people thinking my hobbies are "neat" but lame. My other interests include astronomy, astrophotography, photography, and I was totally immersed in an mmog game (EVE) for nearly two years. You want lame glazed over looks? Try explaining why it is so epic that your alliance beat another alliance on the battlefield using sub-capital spaceships and held onto their region of space and all the stations and markets and resources within it. Then get into why six months after you swore off the game you still check online forums and stat boards to keep an eye on how things are going inside that world.

Your mileage may vary as I am a very solitary person. I no longer am able to work due to various medical issues (some of which stem from the anxiety of being around people). I am 31 with isolation issues. Birding is perfect for me because you can do it alone. So I guess unlike you, I am lame and I just don't surround myself with many people at all and the ones I do already know I am lame.

However, now and then I see something awesome like a Great Blue Heron fly into the airspace over an Osprey nest and the Osprey attacking the to GBH drive it away. It was only a warning attack but boy did they scream at each other and get very close in the air. I watched that then looked over to no one and thought, gee...

This wasn't supposed to be as depressing as it turned out. In short, yes, I kinda understand what you mean, you are not alone in those feelings.

Benjamin

[triciav83]

I got the bug in college when I took an ornithology class. Our field trips were the best! I kind of fell out of it for a few years until we got a new DSLR camera and I couldn't stop taking pictures of all the birds I saw. My partner saw how much fun I was having and took me out everywhere. She didn't get into though until I got a pair of binoculars for Christmas and I let her use the camera. Now we can both look at and try to identify the birds we find.

Unforunately, a lot of the birders I've come across in the field haven't been super friendly, but there are a couple of places I know we can go to find other nice birders.

[DJ77]

If I talk about birding and the listener isn't interested, it's just because they haven't realized the great awesomeness of all that is bird. Seriously, though. When I can tell the listener is spacing out, I relate birding to his or her hobbies. For example, I've discussed flight with an Air Force member. But that's just when talking about birds. Actually going out and watching them together is rare.

Sometimes I drag my boyfriend along, but mostly I just go alone. Only once have I encountered another birder in the field. He was really cool and more knowledgable about the area than I. And I was a newb so it was kind of cool to listen to someone with more experience and see his cool photos. He even invited me to go birding with him sometime. However, he was at least a decade older than I, and I was afraid to be alone with an older man/stranger for fear he was secretly a creep. So I never contacted him again.

In some ways I like birding alone. I won't be judged for my lack of technique/patience/whatever. No one will ever bring down my mood by demeaning whatever sightings we saw that day. But on the flip side, I wish there was someone to celebrate with when my life list goes up and actually have discussions with me about birding. Nowadays all I have are people who will kinda discuss birds, but they always categorize it as one of my weird quirks. I wish it was one of our weird quirks.

[Clip]

I had one person actually say birding is boring! I think she thinks I just sit a wait for birds to come along and that just is not the case. that might make me a better birder if I did some of that. But, I actually walk a lot. A few stops to take pictures or to stop and listen but for the most apart I'm out there getting some exercise and exploring nature. Plus there are other cool things out there like bugs and snakes and wild flowers.

[EyesOnTheSky]

I much prefer to bird alone or with the wife. I dislike making others wait for me or feeling rushed.

[folkeye]

I don't bird at a fast pace, but get to see a lot of birds (and general nature sight seeing of wherever I am). I've met some very nice birders out in the field, but mainly in passing. Found a few super serious ones too, I don't enjoy being around them. Totally focused, knows everything about every bird in the book, and is one tracked on spotting bird. No social, no 'fun' banter. Just straight and serious. Now that's not how I view birding.

I'm hoping through just being out and about and field trips when I can I'll find a local friend to bird with. I won't stop in the meantime, I just have to remember to always ask the two that go with me 'is there ANYTHING else you guys want to do'. If they can't answer, well, birds it is.

There are places I'm willing to go by myself and others I'm not (distance or someplace more isolated). Just not all that comfortable.

[TheGodComplex]

Could you imagine how lonely it would be for a bird who goes humaning?

[creeker]

Could you imagine how lonely it would be for a bird who goes humaning?

Maybe we're not birding at all, it's the birds that are humaning. They just have us convinced it's the other way around.

[horseface]

Nobody loves Vireos though. Poor things.