As one who could never sit still for long periods of time, I under-stand the restless feeling that some experience when they attempt to observe wildlife. I could never enjoy fishing or card games or TV marathons and have always preferred short stories to novels. Even as an avid birder, I find it more enjoyable to combine this activity with hiking, though, admittedly, my pace is often more like a saunter.
But successful wildlife watching does require a certain degree of stillness. Those who race along nature trails, chatting with their companions, will scare away wild creatures long before close observation is possible. Indeed, birders are often loners or, if they do enjoy company, they know to choose fellow birders who possess the patience and quiet manner that the hobby requires. While many of us could never sit through a tennis match, we can stake out a forest clearing or creekside bluff for hours at a time.
Timing is also important when it comes to wildlife observation. Wild creatures tend to be most active (and thus most visible) during the early morning and evening hours; this is especially true during the summer months, when most species avoid the afternoon heat. However, even during these productive hours, the art of stillness is an essential talent to possess and its practice can be especially difficult on frigid winter mornings or buggy summer evenings.
