Do people look at you in a weird way when your birding? (1 Viewer)

[matt green]

Do folks go birding in red cordurory trousers and parkas these days??

Most of the birdwatchers I've seen recently look quite 'hip' and trendy, especialy since most of them are wearing modern outdoor clothing.

I don't get any strange looks, birdnerds are a thing of the past!!

Matt

 

[Lucky Birder]

I think it's partly to do with how you feel about birding in public places. If you feel confident, then it doesn't matter what other people think, wherever you are. The one exception, I have felt, is when waiting for my children at their schools. If people see you with bins looking at something they are immediately suspicious in such a place....must be even worse for men.

I don't buy that. I don't think many child abusers carry binoculars.

 

[luke]

i usual get some interesting looks when out doing survey work, which usual leads me to places where you really wouldn't go to if you were getting paid. carrying a clip board and a pair of bins around your neck, people think you've come to check there TV licenses or something.

 

[joannec]

I don't buy that. I don't think many child abusers carry binoculars.

I agree that not many child abusers carry bins. LOL. Still though I get odd looks and feel ill at ease near school grounds. Last year, I noticed swifts flying around my sons school and watched them with the bins and got odd looks from other parents. Teachers have noticed me in the car park with bins at the ready, strange looks again and I am female!!!

 

[Xenospiza]

I spend most of my time watching migration at an inland site... which in spring is mostly waiting... It's on quite a busy heathland, so now and again people can't contain themselves:
"Are you watching birds?"
"Yes"
"Oh, some special bird around?"
"No, we're just waiting"
"But you know one will turn up?"
"No, but we hope it does"
Come on, that IS weird!

Usually, people will settle with saying "birdwatchers" to each other, or more "original & funny" things like "Smile!" "Here we are" or "Is the princess coming?"

 

[Storm-Petrel]

Do folks go birding in red cordurory trousers and parkas these days??

Most of the birdwatchers I've seen recently look quite 'hip' and trendy, especialy since most of them are wearing modern outdoor clothing.

I don't get any strange looks, birdnerds are a thing of the past!!

Matt

DUDE!!!!!!!
i dont wear suspenders and overalls with glasses that are 6 inches in diameter!!! .i wear worn faded jeans when birding with a t-shirt and sunglasses!!!!! and skateboarding shoes. i like hiking in skateboarding shoes

 

[deborah4]

When you are out birding do you get a few people looking at you in a very iodd way?

nah ... they just look odd, period. I wander myself what on earth they're doing in a place that is obviously made for birdwatching and nothing else! :hi:

 

[da2m]

people do look at me strangely but that because i'm a ugly bugger.

living in a small village i am so used to saying hello to everyone there, so i always acknowledge people when i'm out birding.

when i do manage to get out it's usally early morning so there arn't throngs of people about. but we all have to share the same space so why not at least be civil.

man i think i'm turning into a hippie!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[teamsaint]

A lot of young people, particularly in non rural areas might not have any concept of what birdwatching is

that is totally true, it's amazing how so many people think that i spend my weekends hiding behind a bush in camouflauge gear, popping up every few minuites from behind a bush and saying "look a fine specimen of a Wood pigeon", then popping up later and saying "look, another has joined it, quite extraordinary". okay it seems like a joke to us but that really is what they think. if we were to take them out and show them how many different birds of so many different types there actually just in Britain, i think that they might be slightly interested

 

[pipixcan]

I find seawatching often gets the "what are you looking at?" query, but a smile and a polite explanation usually leads to an interesting chat with the dogwalker/jogger etc....just have to hope the day's only group of Poms didn't choose that moment to pass close inshore!!

 

[Vectis Birder]

I find that "F*** Off!" usually works well

Along with the appropriate hand signals. I reserve the 'f*** off'-s and hand signals for those very rare occasions I get abuse (it's only happened once, fortunately, when some halfwit thought that blasting his car horn and making stupid remarks was a clever thing to do).

 

[Henstooth]

I happen to live in a relativley small village and I am well known by most to have this "strange hobby" of bird watching. I am known to skulk about on private roads, and hide in bushes and wander about in woods. I am well known for turning up at the kids school in my "scags" (my name for my outdoor birdwatching atire), armed with bins, tripod and scope. At first it turned a few heads. The wife is ashamed and has begged me not to but I just don't care. In fact it has opend up a few interesting oportunities. I have been granted permission to encamp in someones garden to get a spot on a species that regularly visited. I have been invited to go to peoples houses and educate them on the birds that arrive. I have also led a large group of kids from my church on a Sunday afternoon jaunt to introduce them to the pleasures of birwatching. Most of my work collegues (police) take great joy at taking the p*ss, but in fact they happen to be surprised at how interseting it can be. On many occassion one or two of them get me to one side (out of earshot) and describe a bird they have seen and get me to enlighten them! Shame they don't have the balls to ask in front of the others but I don't make an example of them. One fellow sergeant has now become an avid watcher and we often go out to areas to birdwatch. This has brought many a laugh from others when they find out but the don't take the p*ss out of him 'cos he's 6'4'' and built like a mountain!
I find other passtimes strange but it does seem to by us birdwatchers, them stamp collectors and them train spotters that get it in the neck. Ahh! bollo**s to them. Each to their own. I love what I do and we should stand united. Rise brothers and sisters. Wear your bins with pride and cry out like the birds of the air do.. with pride......ok...bit OTT but a laugh.
Henstooth

 

[Hanno]

Gee, you should come birding here in Vietnam. As a birder you are liable to stop traffic, have the Army check you out, and be followed by a couple of hundred kids screaming "Hello, hello" at the top of their voices.

 

[Gentoo]

Interestingly, I have just heard on the radio, presenters talking about weirdos & suprisingly Birdwatching was mentioned. I really find it amazing that some people find it odd to Birdwatch, there probably the types who watch soap operas & those appaling reality TV programs. What is wrong with being interested in birds & wildlife in general, they are real life & not make believe. Give me fact & not fiction.

Rod.

:clap: I agree 110%!

 

[Gentoo]

I don't buy that. I don't think many child abusers carry binoculars.

Weird perverted ones just might. Where I work, we kick about two or three of these people out of the park every summer who are watching kids with binoculars or taking their pictures.

 

[Henstooth]

I remember once, when I went watching with my work pal, a couple of youths quoted "you know what those two are gunna be up to?" laughing to themselves. I got the distinct impression that they thought we were gay and using the "guise" of birdwatchers as a cover story to legitimise why we were in that particular area. It wasn't until later that I found out that the area in question, a well wooded location, with a car park, just off a busy A road, was a renowned hook up point for gay men!!:eek!: :eek!: :eek!: It was where I saw my first Nuthatch (of all birds).

 

[Lucky Birder]

Weird perverted ones just might. Where I work, we kick about two or three of these people out of the park every summer who are watching kids with binoculars or taking their pictures.

That's awful : (

 

[Henstooth]

You should call the cops on them. It might be found that they are in breach of sex offenders conditions by being there of being in possession of such items in order to view / record images of kids. They might even be wanted or even as yet UNKNOWN as a threat.
Pete (soz..got my work head on there!)

 

[Euan Buchan]

I remember once, when I went watching with my work pal, a couple of youths quoted "you know what those two are gunna be up to?" laughing to themselves. I got the distinct impression that they thought we were gay QUOTE]

I had once had teenagers come up to me & say "what are you doing mister?" I'd say "birdwatching" they say "you won't see many birds down at the beach they all live in clubs" after that I just told them to beat it

 

[Mabel]

Since I keep away from playgrounds and schools and other "child-friendly" areas, I thankfully do not have the abuser issue on my mind. In response to the original question "Do you get weird looks while birding?" In short, yes. But I don't blame them. I bird in quiet places, and I'm a young male dresed in black! I normally makes things comfortable by simply grunting "hey". If I get hassle, I tell them to go **** themselves.