I've been thinking about getting into birdwatching, but I'm worried that people will see me as a huge nerd. Any advice?
Birdwatching is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. Who cares what people think!
I know, right? Tell me, what's the difference between birdwatching and like, ornithology? Aren't they the same thing?
Ornithology is actually a branch of zoology that focuses on the study of birds.
Ah, so birdwatching is definitely for the casual person. Why is it that it's such an "old person" hobby? Feel like I only ever see the elderly do it.
I really don't know. Birdwatching actually takes a significant amount of hearing ability since finding a lot of bird species require hearing more than the ye.
Ah true, and I guess being able to distinguish among lots of different types of birds. Speaking of which, how many different kinds are there?
There are approximately 10000 living species of birds.
Wow! Imagine knowing 10000 different bird calls and being able to tell exactly which call belongs to which bird. Talk about a talent, right?
Bird vocalization
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs (relatively complex vocalizations) are distinguished by function from calls (relatively simple vocalizations).
Definition.
The distinction between songs and calls is based upon complexity, length, and context. Songs are longer and more complex and are associated with courtship and mating, while calls tend to serve such functions as alarms or
Birdwatching
Birdwatching, or birding, is a form of wildlife observation in which the observation of birds is a recreational activity or citizen science. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, by listening for bird sounds, or by watching public webcams.
Birdwatching often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more easily detected and identified by ear than by eye. Most birdwatchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who engage in