Been pondering this question to myself since I've recently seen a couple people say "I enjoy watching birds but I'm not a birder!"
To me this is highly confusing because I've been calling myself a newbie "birder" but in reality...what makes a birder? Does enjoying watching birds in any capacity make you a "birder" or is there some sort of list of requirements I'm missing here? I don't want to mislabel myself and pretend I'm something I'm not but....now I'm confused!
So, in your opinion, what makes a birder? Is someone who puts up a feeder in their back yard and watches happily from the window a...birder? Do I need the most expensive pair if bins I can afford with a harness, a Tilley hat, a checklist, a notebook, and a ticket to a faraway locale on a specific bird watching trip...does that make me a birder then?
Anyway, all in good fun! Just wondering what others think
To me this is highly confusing because I've been calling myself a newbie "birder" but in reality...what makes a birder? Does enjoying watching birds in any capacity make you a "birder" or is there some sort of list of requirements I'm missing here? I don't want to mislabel myself and pretend I'm something I'm not but....now I'm confused!
So, in your opinion, what makes a birder? Is someone who puts up a feeder in their back yard and watches happily from the window a...birder? Do I need the most expensive pair if bins I can afford with a harness, a Tilley hat, a checklist, a notebook, and a ticket to a faraway locale on a specific bird watching trip...does that make me a birder then?
Anyway, all in good fun! Just wondering what others think