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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Birdingcraft" data-source="post: 1627877" data-attributes="member: 55810">Good question! Since it feels like birding has always been an inherent part of who I am, I almost don't know why I watch birds; I just can't imagine otherwise. Nevertheless, I do vaguely recall being a non-birder before the age of 7 although even then I remember wanting to know what that black bird was with the red patches in its wings (my non birding father told me that he thought it was an oriole which is interesting because orioles and Red-winged Blackbirds are in the same family). In any case, I became a birder after looking at books about birds in the public library and wanting to see those amazing looking things that supposedly lived where I did- things like Indigo Bunting, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, American Kestrel, and dozens of other common species. I use the word supposedly because I wasn't seeing any of these in urban Niagara Falls, NY and thus learned early on about habitat preferences and the extent to which birds can be affected by lack of green space. With that in mind, I am pretty sure I started watching birds to see for myself that such amazing looking creatures actually existed which in turn provoked questioning how and where they lived. Although curiosity and the desire to learn about my natural surroundings are still essential forces that drive this passion, I also bird because depending upon the circumstances, it can be exciting, relaxing, fun, intellectually stimulating, dramatic, challenging, and a great activity to share with others.</blockquote>

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