**Birding Terminology and Distinctions:**
– The term ‘birdwatcher’ coined in 1901 by Edmund Selous.
– ‘Bird’ introduced as a verb in 1918.
– ‘Birding’ initially referred to fowling or hunting.
– ‘Twitching’ – British term for pursuing rare birds.
– Distinction between birders and birdwatchers.
– ‘Twitchers’ chase rare birds and have their own vocabulary.
**History and Evolution of Birdwatching:**
– Interest in bird observation for aesthetic value dates back to the late 18th century.
– Rise of bird study during the Victorian Era.
– Founding of Audubon Society and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
– Evolution of birdwatching influenced by organizations and key figures.
– Impact of field guides, optics, and technology on bird identification.
**Environmental and Economic Impact:**
– Birding activity growth in North America in the 20th century.
– Economic contributions of birders to the US economy.
– Birdwatching tourism as a fast-growing sector.
– Impact on biodiversity conservation and environmental education.
– Contributions to citizen science and monitoring bird populations.
**Activities and Monitoring in Birdwatching:**
– Birders’ activities like observing local species and migrations.
– Popular types of birding – seawatching, pelagic birding.
– Monitoring bird populations through censuses and projects.
– Participation in citizen science for tracking bird species.
– Importance of locations like forests, wetlands, and coasts for birding.
**Equipment, Technology, and Sociological Aspects:**
– Common equipment for birding – binoculars, field guides, smartphones.
– Use of sound equipment for bird vocalizations.
– Role of photography and videography in birdwatching.
– Sociological aspects – gender patterns, societal perceptions.
– Importance of networking, organizations, and famous birdwatchers.
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by listening for bird sounds, watching public webcams, or by viewing smart bird feeder cameras.
Most birdwatchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons; this is unlike ornithologists, who engage in the study of birds using formal scientific methods.