2 Chapter 2: Why We “Bird”
The specifics can be different for most birders, but most birders experience the following. Birding is intellectual hunting. Like all hunts, effectiveness is often determined by immersion, attentiveness, discipline, patience and focus. Instead of trophies to hang, memories are stored, catalogued and cross referenced.
As naturalists, we don’t just look for birds, but rely on the wealth of biological diversity to guide our actions. The behavior of the birds in response to other forms of life (cascara giving berries, approaching predators, mayfly eruption, human exuberance), and non- living forces (rain, sunshine, wind), gives us insight to the natural world around us. This is how we bring the theories of ecology into our minds and hearts. Birding connects us, and reconnects some, to our connections and responsibilities to our ecosystem.
One important connection is often referred to as the “Keeper of the Game.” This is a phrase used to emphasize the bidirectional respect between hunter and hunted. The hunter needs food and must respect the life of the hunted. The hunted reflects that respect and gives the food to the hunter. This unspoken understanding and mutual respect is what guarantees that the interaction will not be exploitative. This “keeps” the “game” alive and allows the hunted and the hunter to coexist. For birders, respecting the birds, their nest sites, their food, their water sources, and their space, keeps the birds sovereign. Birding will go on and we as humans will always have this pathway to connect with, or reconnect with, our environment.
Holding these connects and responsibility sacred opens up a realm of intimate experiences. Whether its rainy, sunny, cloudy, or windy when we meet the birds, the natural context is a shared experience. In these moments, a bird will present itself to you, possibly out of admiration, or as a nod to the great mystery of life itself. We are in it together and we can admire and appreciate each other equally and intellectually.
Different birds enter this agreement at different times and in different ways. Some humans “bird”, and some birds… “human”. When this happens, look deep into their eyes and with your best intentions, nod your head in respect as you both check off your checklists. This is why we bird.