[mwrogers]

Hello Everyone,
I’m a design student from Syracuse University who just started working on Birding Equipment. It is my first introduction to birding and I’m finding it fascinating. From my research I hope to identify things that need to be designed for birders. I’m looking for problems in the activity of birding and then I’ll be designing solutions.

So I have two questions?
1). What three key words would you use to describe your birding culture?

2). What would you have redesigned or invented if this was Star Wars and you could have anything you desired? Equipment, clothing, cameras guides… I’m currently working on improving the process of taking pictures through a spotting scope. Any and all of your ideas are welcome. Please e-mail me with them mwrogers@syr.edu


Mark

[Bluetail]

Hi Mark and welcome to BirdForum. A potentially very interesting thread here!

Just a quick query: in question (1) do you mean culture personally or nationally?

[John N]

Hi Mark. Welcome to Birdforum.

[mwrogers]

In question (1) I'm asking what birding means to you in three words. Both national and personal perspectives would be perfect.

Jason, I'm so glad you asked that question!!! Is the birding culture different in America than it is in Europe, Asia or Africa? I know geography differs but do the perspectives of Birders differ as well?

[KCFoggin]

Hi there Mark from a former New Yorker and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum.

I'm sure you will peak a bit of interest with this thread and I look forward to the replies to your questions. I'll have to think on this a bit before I give you mine. :)

[christineredgate]

Hi,Mark welcome to BF.Good luck with your project.

[BarbaraM]

There are about as many differences in birders as there are birders. Spend a couple of hours reading back through message threads on Bird Forum and you'll pick up some - here's my quick take:
Listers: range from just like to keep track of what they've seen and what they haven't to folks who travel the world in dedicated pursuit of seeing as many different birds as possible - keep life lists. See the recently published book - The Big Year. I don't list except when I travel - then it's a way to remember the trip and the birds I saw that I'm unlikely to see again soon (goes with increased loss of short term memory!). Any of the following might or might not be a lister of some variety. Also check out some of the bird-related periodicals: Audubon, Birding, Bird World, and more - some directed to environment, some to birdwatching/listing, some to particular geographic areas, some toward scientists, some more to amateurs. A websearch or your university library should provide wealth of resources

Garden birders - like to see what comes into their home garden: may or may not keep a list. Most probably feed to some extent, some set up birdhouses, plant bird-friendly plants or otherwise enhance the environment to attract birds (birdbath, etc.). Over time, many turn in to birders who venture out to more distant spots.

Birdbanders (ringing in UK) - trained/certified to catch (using mistnets), measure, ID, and band birds to track migration, longevity, numbers, and so on.

Conservationists/environmentalists - work to enhance natural habitat to benefit birds. May be involved in banding/ringing.

Don't know how you'd categorize it but some people really focus on a specific species or type of bird for their interest and involvement.

Just from reading posts on this site in the last few days there seem to be some who don't seem to even try to identify what they're seeing although they may travel about pretty extensively (at least on weekends) to look at birds. That may be related to birding in Europe where I recently learned from experience that there are a lot of birds that are pretty indistinguishable (little brown birds). That is somewhat less so in the US, except for sparrows.

There is a lot of variation in language between US and UK - I saw an article somewhere but can't remember where, that listed a lot of the UK phrases for Americans. I look forward to seeing what others have to suggest.

As for wish-list - can't really think of anything. Maybe a scope that somehow works for both tall and short people at the same time with neither having to stoop or stand on tippytoes! Barbara

[boyinthebush]

Originally Posted by mwrogers

2). What would you have redesigned or invented if this was Star Wars and you could have anything you desired?

An anti-cat device for the garden that works

[helenol]

Hello Mark and welcome to Birdforum.net

Good luck with the project!

Regards