There are rules for this. Really. Here are a few
elementary ones:
* Don't harm the birds or other wildlife.
* Don't interfere with other birders.
* Don't disturb nesting birds - spooking the parents can harm
both eggs and fledglings.
* Respect fellow humans' private property
Birding tools
Just as a carpenter needs a hammer and a chef needs
a spoon, a birder needs certain tools if he/she is
going to be successful at spotting any Florida fowl.
These are the basics:
Binoculars, so you can pick out that preferred bird.
Without them, it's hard to see some of a bird's
distinguishing features. It's also difficult to fully
appreciate the jewel-like intricacy of their feathers
or the fine points of their behavior. Beginners can
get a perfectly serviceable pair of 8X42s at someplace
like K-Mart, according to Audubon enthusiasts.
(The first number is the power, the second refers
to the size of the big end of the binocs. The bigger
the first number, the more it magnifies --
with 8X42s, the bird looks eight times closer that
it really is. The higher the second number, the more
light can enter the binocs, which means a clearer,
brighter image.) Really serious birders often graduate
to sophisticated scopes, which can cost $1,000 or
more.
A field guide, so you can identify what you spot.
"Real" birders swear by the Birders Guide to Florida,
put out by the American Birding Association.
A list, so you can write down the ones you've
spotted. A life list is a list of all the birds you've
seen, ever. Many parks and wildlife refuges
have lists available for people to pick up. Birders also keep yard lists, regional
lists, world lists, year lists -- the, ahem, list
goes on. By the way, it doesn't count if you only hear
the bird, even if you know what it is by its call.
You also can't claim it as yours if your birding buddy
sees it first.
Birding has been called the most popular spectator
sport in North America, which means more people
watch birds than football. It's also a hobby that
anyone can enjoy, from kids on up to great-grandparents.
It can be done alone or in a group, in your back
yard or some exotic locale. In short, it's a lot of
fun.
It also generates cold, hard cash.
For the purposes of state statistics, birds fall
into a category called "non-consumptive watchable
wildlife." Birding also is considered nature, or
eco, tourism, which is the fastest-growing segment
of the tourism industry worldwide.
Birders in Florida (about 2 million of them by the
state Game Commission's count) spent some $1.7 billion
on their hobby in 1996, the latest year for which
figures are available.
When you add up all the other watchable wildlife
activities, the total statewide economic impact
that year was $3.5 billion. Those activities also
provided more than 51,000 jobs.
A few related fact facts:
* Birding is a worldwide activity, and Florida is
the number one U.S. destination for international
travelers.
* About half of the 42 million tourists who visit
Florida each year are seeking some sort of natural
activity.
* Florida ranks second in the nation in terms of
money spent for bird watching and other birding
activities (excluding hunting).
* Among residents, birding is the top non-consumptive
wildlife activity.
