Birding Beginnings
12/8/2022 By Sherry Thornburg
Dear Reader,
I’ve been fascinated with birds since childhood. I picked up the birding bug from my first-grade teacher. A class project was to make a bird book with pictures and copied facts written out for us each day on the blackboard (yes, I’m that old). That first bird book is long gone, but the fascination with birds remains. As I have traveled across America, I have seen and photographed lots of birds; but I didn’t seriously start birding until 2013. When I say, seriously birding, I mean recording my sightings and actively looking for and learning about birds.
On my 45th birthday, I made a rather awesome promise to myself. I vowed, among other things, that I would take my life-long love of birds to the next level. I would get some good birding books, not just the Golden Books American Birds that I had used with since fourth grade. I would then start a life list and see how many birds I could collect in the next 40 years or so. Plus, if I were going to do this, I wouldn’t just snatch and grab bird shots, I would learn birds.
Planning and Questions?
Learning about the birds brings up a lot of questions.
Why do they come to Texas?
Do they live here all the time?
How do I learn about them; what resources do I need?
What type of habitat do they like?
Do they like to be around people or are they shy?
Can I attract them to my back yard?
Will they be easy to find, difficult or near impossible to find?
A lot to take in and learn. In the words of Scrooge McDuck, “This is going to take a lot of thought.”
As I started to answer these questions and find my birds, I started a Facebook page and shared my finds with friends and family. Later, I created a blog. Now, I am recreating my blog for those interested in birds and birding and what beginners should know. I will document my birding quests, my research and how I learned to find and ID birds to serve as a guide to the beautiful Lone Star State’s birding spots. As we go, I will also share my travels outside Texas and across the country.
Why Write About My Birding?
When working with my first online birding groups, I learned that birding is a widely loved activity, but some people, due to disabilities or other reasons can only see birds through their windows, their television or the internet. Others, like me have finished their baby steps and are hungry to tell their tales. There are also photographers (me) and life-list hunters who are looking for hints. And last, there are those who just want to read about birds and see them in pictures. God love you in the last group, because I think you will be 90% of the people who read what I offer.
More to come.
Happy Birding
Photographs
Title photo: Northern Mockingbird
Upper left: Rufus Hummingbird
Upper right: Redtail Hawk
Lower right: Little Blue Heron