A new book, recently reviewed in the New York Times, encourages birders (especially those new to the hobby) to concentrate on enjoying common birds in their own backyards. While immersing oneself in nature is certainly therapeutic and we can learn a great deal from our avian neighbors, the author also suggests that engaging in bird counts and searching for rare species is unnecessarily stressful and competitive.
While there is a kernel of truth to her warnings, most birders who participate in organizations such as eBird and take part in seasonal counts conducted by Audubon or their local nature center find the experience to be both educational and enjoyable. In my experience, the competitive aspect varies among individuals but has its positive effects.
Tomorrow, I will take part in the annual Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the Audubon Society; I have also been a member of eBird for the past six years. Those of us engaged in this activity certainly enjoy the experience but also understand that we are contributing to the protection of birds and their habitats. The numbers generated by our activity are used to monitor the range and population of all bird species, common or rare, thereby fueling conservation efforts. Enjoy those backyard birds but consider taking part in counts as well.
