A few of my bird books. My pup photo-bombed the picture.
If you are looking for a hobby to keep you busy and outdoors for a lifetime, try birdwatching. The tools are simple, good eyes, binoculars, good ears, field guides, journal and patience. I also love keeping a life list of birds I've seen since. The beauty of bird watching is you can do it anywhere, from the urban cities to the deepest jungles, from the north pole to the south pole or even your backyard. Unless, you need to fly to across the globe to see a rare bird, birding is free. A hobby you can do during a pandemic for health and what some people call ornitherapy.
I have to admit, I started a life list many years ago and I'm now restarting a new one. I love birds, but my interest for over twenty years have been Corvids(Ravens and Crows, plus Jays to name a few) and Raptors (Birds of Prey, especially owls.) Below: me and an educational Barn Owl.
Now, I've become more inclusive and want to see as many birds as possible. I even purchased the Cornell Lab of Ornithology life list and journal. Identification is fun, but observing behaviors is just as intriguing. If you loved dinosaurs as a child, why not look at their closest relatives? If you are a beginner, there are thousands of resources from beginner guide books, phone apps, nesting birds on view cam, to courses with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Bird Academy) to joining The Audubon Society. There are also many podcasts about birds and birdwatching. You can also google just about any type of bird, however the best part about bird watching is to escape from screen time.
Happy Birding!
