Birding broken down to it’s bare minimum is just being able to identify birds. But there are so many aspects of it that make it so fun and enjoyable. Below I will list some of the reasons I love birding so much and why you should give it a try!

First, you get to go out in nature. I think we as a society can get so distracted with everyday life that we forget to appreciate it. Hearing the trees sway in the wind, feeling the sun on you, seeing how still everything is, yet how much life there is around you butterflies, bees, fish, and of course the birds. Birding gets you out to see all of this so you’re not just looking at them you’re looking at all of nature's beauty.

It allows you to explore. There are so many places I would have never been to had I not been birding there. Birding can take you off the beaten path to some incredible places that few people get to experience.

Finding a rare bird. Sometimes birds get lost and end up in places they aren’t supposed to be. Sometimes you are the one that finds these birds. This is such an exciting experience it could be a rare are for the state or even country. With that means other people may go chase after your bird and that is so cool to me.

Chasing a rare bird. Though it may not be as exciting as finding a rare bird yourself it still can be an exciting but stressful experience as you don’t know if you will see the bird but once you do it is such a great experience.

Finally Conservation. Birding has allowed me to really understand the threats many species experience largely from human influences. If more people can appreciate birds they can also take steps to protect them as well.

When I first started birding I never realized how far it would take me, there were so many aspects that I didn't know about. Birding is full of excitement and wonder. It is so varied in where you can take it that you can enjoy it from just the birds in your backyard to driving hours away to see a rare bird. Birding has shaped who I am, who my friends are, and my life as a whole. I am very grateful for it as it has allowed me to determine what I want to do for my career. Meet some of my closest friends and be grateful for nature and everything about it.