PROFILE OF A BIRD WATCHER 556 words

There is no-one more interesting than the person who has a passion, whether it is for vintage cars, Royal Doulton china, stamp collecting or mountain climbing.

People who are birding enthusiasts have an aura about them. They exude enthusiasm and are always ready to impart fascinating bits of information to anyone inclined to listen.

When involved in the pursuit of their hobby they seem to have boundless energy. When they have a bird in their sights they can become totally absorbed, to the exclusion of all others around them – which can be most annoying. Long discussions will take place, sometimes even heated ones, over identifying the rare summer visitor, which quite possibly is the common house sparrow.

Perhaps it is the detection and discovery which makes it so appealing. You might discover underneath their exterior, a frustrated Sherlock Holmes intent on solving the mystery.

Birding enthusiasts pore over their field guides, checking bill colour, flight patterns, nesting habits and calls. They are never bored or at a loss, as birds are all around.

When out and about they are continually alert, attuned to the slightest movement, the faintest echo of a call. Instantly, there is a flurry of turning pages, pencils at the ready, binoculars trained, and the inevitable conference: was it? Could it possibly be? No! No, that‘s not it........

I would describe them as driven. Not the usual picture you would imagine of the placid, gentle soul, strolling through the bush, absentmindedly gazing into the distance, or half asleep under a tree. Absolutely not!!

Their persistence, ruthlessly tracking and stalking is quite frightening. Their ability to hunt and find the quarry is surreal. Another unfortunate character failing is that they are quite unprincipled in claiming that first sighting. A really bad case of one-upmanship.

Some birders just have to be top dog. Supporting this theory is the amazing length a birder will go to, simply to obtain more names on his list than anyone else has collected. This particular species of bird watchers, known as Twitchers hop on planes, travel halfway across the world, and sometimes into remote and dangerous terrain, just to find that rare, uncommon specimen. They add the name to their list, (or cross it off), and head out again, on the relentless search for the next trophy. In some ways they remind me of big game hunters, although their quarry does live to fight another day.

There is also the committed bird watcher. He, or she, has a entire arsenal of equipment that has to be carried around at all times, with no regard to the inconvenience of fitting it all in. ‘The spotting scope, binoculars, camera and tripod, zoom lenses, tape recorder, guide book, numerous pens and notebook, water bottle, hat, insect repellant, sunscreen… . Now where did we put the baby?’

They are provocative, arrogant, compulsive, and sometimes fanatical in the pursuit of their hobby. In spite of all this, there is nothing more entertaining and stimulating than the enthusiasm and curiosity a bird watcher displays when on the hunt. Seeing a committed bird watcher in action can enormously improve what might otherwise be a rather ordinary, dull day.

A true birder has such an appeal that even the most jaded and sceptical observer is affected by their wonderful obsession with birds.