{"id":25966,"date":"2021-11-07T01:00:42","date_gmt":"2021-11-07T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=25966"},"modified":"2021-11-02T16:01:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T23:01:52","slug":"zooming-in-on-nature-a-boaters-love-for-birding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2021\/11\/07\/zooming-in-on-nature-a-boaters-love-for-birding\/","title":{"rendered":"Zooming in on Nature: A Boater’s Love for Birding"},"content":{"rendered":"

And so the checklist begins: PFD, fishing license and fishing bag, splash gear and fleece, flip-flops and camp wear, sleeping bag, pad and cot, sand mat\u2014your typical multi-day river trip gear list. Only my list also includes binocs, Sibly and assorted field guides, birding journal, camera, watercolors, pencils\u2026 and that\u2019s about the time the complaining begins from my partner and the dry box is full.<\/p>\n

The river life of a birder and hobby naturalist is never shy of experience. Ever since I willingly joined this madness around 2007, I can honestly confess I\u2019ve never had a boring day outside. Sometimes birding is the gateway to all things naturalist related. It\u2019s relaxing, interesting and you can bird anywhere. You meet interesting people (nerds) and not all of them listen to classical music and eat quinoa and spit-roasted eggplant, although I do appreciate all of those things as well.<\/p>\n

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After too many hectic years in big box retail management, I was reinventing myself. I needed more nature in my life, less inside, more outside.<\/p>\n

I knew a handful of bird species\u2014great horned owl, bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, hummingbird, heron (or was it a crane?). But I had a lot to learn\u2014and fast\u2014as my position leading hundreds of young minds as an Americorps Volunteer at an Idaho Fish and Game educational nature center was about to begin. I was about to be the person who can answer all those questions about birds\u2014supposedly.<\/p>\n

I quickly learned that the most important part of this entire birding conversation is habitat. Those five magical things\u2014food, water, shelter, space and arrangement\u2014that define a species\u2019 survival, population decline or extinction. Habitat can also tell us which species may or may not actually reside in a particular place. Learning about birds includes learning about their habitat needs, behaviors, food preferences, life cycle, predators, and limiting factors to survival.<\/p>\n

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An Osprey and a Bald Eagle. Photo: Jenni Chaffin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coincidentally, as I began my major life transformation, I also happened to be whitewater rafting and embarking on a fair bit of outdoor adventures. Ok, quite a bit. As in, that year my partner and I topped 50 sleeping bag nights despite our crazy demanding jobs.<\/p>\n

As those river miles added up, so did my curiosity about all the birds I kept seeing. Most good changes in life begin with a fair dose of curiosity. And curiosity leads to learning.\u00a0And learning leads to all the field guides that fill my dry boxes.<\/p>\n

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Birding in its purest form is simply observing. Watching the birds do what birds do. This is when you capture all the details\u2014their shapes and behavior; their colors, patterns and identifying marks; their sounds, calls and movement. Taking all those things in allows you to make a more informed identification. Watching birds and honing into fine detail greatly improves your overall sensory awareness, including your long-range vision, the ability to spot the slightest critter movements, and your awareness of sounds.<\/p>\n

Binoculars and optics like a scope are real tools in the field, but they do require a bit of practice to master. When using binoculars, you want to first find the animal or object that you want to see up close. Once you\u2019re focused on it, bring the binoculars up to your eyes without moving your head or eyes. It\u2019s best to start closer then move to things farther away as your skills develop. Using a harness eases neck strain and keeps your optics closer to your body when hiking or scrambling over rocks or steep trails.<\/p>\n