First things first. Do you have an itch, an urge, or an unrest in your mind whenever you come across a bird busy following its own daily routine? If yes, then reading this article might not bring something new to you. You can skip it.
I know you haven’t. And that’s the reason you are a birdwatcher. You just love it. Now the second thing. Are you a person who is not yet crazy but has an interest in birds? Are you thinking about knowing the birds in your vicinity? Did a random birdie catch your attention, and then it got you thinking that you should delve into the world of birds? Or are you simply thinking about having a cool new hobby? Voilà, Coolmantra is here to tell you five benefits or reasons for which you must do it. Go through it. But there are two things I must mention. Firstly, here you are going to read stuff about bird-watching or birding. Bird photography isn’t included here. And secondly, ‘Bird-Watching’ includes ‘Bird-Listening’ too. It basically means ‘Bird-Observing’.
01. A Natural Well-Being
The activity of the birds is a full-time, free show of nature. A program, an exhibition, or a presentation that you can enjoy whenever you want to. So it’s a great way to lift your mood. It gives you a sense of satisfaction that can help you get out of your stress. The feeling of bumping into an unseen bird is something difficult to explain. We have all wondered about watching a bird or a group of birds fly. That good feeling is exponentially increased when you actively start observing them. The variety of their colors, songs, calls, dance, interactions, and flight win our hearts. Simply put, you get happiness from bird-watching.
02. Being in the Present
To observe a bird, you have to be attentive. You have to be in the present moment. You have to focus. And most importantly, you have to be patient. It’s like investigating as a detective. They won’t come to you. You’re the one who’s after them. So you need to be very serious about it. And trust me, this is rewarding.
03. Knowledge
Bird-watching is all about knowledge from the beginning. Nowadays, the ease of the availability of knowledge due to technical improvements helps a lot of people to have birdwatching as their passion. You will be amazed to know how the set of bird species found in a specific area varies with respect to climate and weather. The knowledge of changing birds’ activity in different seasons within a year is fascinating. You will feel your mind blown to know the different subspecies, species, and genera of a specific bird family found in different parts of the world and how their colors, sizes, and calls vary. You’ll have an urge to know about all the different varieties of birds that you’re familiar with. You’ll have an idea about the adaptation of the birds according to the landscapes they live in and their food habits. And one day, you’ll find yourself rich in bird knowledge. And the more you know, the more you fall in love.
04. Saving and Conservation
Just like many other animals, there are many bird species that are fighting against the survival challenges of today’s world. Habitat loss, pollution, global warming, poaching, and hunting are some problems we should be strict about. You can find many people who understand that saving and conserving birds is necessary, but most of them won’t feel that much pain about the amazing creatures being declined in number. To resonate that feeling in our minds, we should actively spend more time with them. We need to observe them more. Because observing is actually a way to take care. And obviously, the more you observe, the more you fall in love, and the more you feel about their insecurity.
05. The sense of Togetherness
Bird-watching is undoubtedly a form of nature-loving. Like all nature lovers, you feel that life is not about being selfish. The world is a collection of different living and non-living things that interact among themselves. You are one of them. So you never feel alone as a bird-watcher. You’ll have an intense feeling that life can exist in different forms, colors, sounds, habits, and habitats. You’ll feel like you’re part of it. And sometimes it may lead you to a strong sense of spirituality. Just imagine: you are in a new place where there’s no one you know. Lying in bed without anything that can catch your attention, you suddenly notice the call of a bird that you have never heard before. You’ll definitely feel welcome.
So, have a happy birding journey
Samarpan Majumdar
