When my sixth-grade Science Olympiad coach first assigned us this topic, I accepted it with a grumble. I could barely pronounce it — “Orni,” I called it.
Little did I know ornithology would soon be an all-encompassing passion that made navigating my daily surroundings feel like a treasure hunt.
The hours spent flipping through the Peterson Bird Guide led to me staring out my window, hoping for a glimpse at this new world that had been opened for me. Routine walks became eye-opening moments. Only through birding did I come to appreciate the true biodiversity that surrounded me. I soon set up bird feeders in my backyard, and I was amazed by the variety of birds that lived in the area’s trees. From cardinals and blue jays to an endless array of sparrows, every new sighting amazed me like it was my first.
Every excursion soon turned into a birding expedition. The biggest joy I derive from birding is the puzzle of “ID”: identifying them within a fleeting second. It’s analogous to putting together a puzzle: putting together small clues to find the bigger picture. Whether it is a single streak on a wing or their unique call, birding drives me to challenge myself to look at a challenge from aspects I’d never considered.
Of all the experiences that I’ve acquired from birdwatching, observance is perhaps one that I’ve come to appreciate the most. Birdwatching has taught me to see beyond the surface level. It is an exercise for all the senses; bird calls are the background music of every neighborhood, and their variety leaves me in awe.
Birdwatching is also a humbling experience, and it speaks to how much more there is to learn. More often than not, birds present a living mystery. They aren’t what they initially seem to be. But effective birding is about creating a mindset to think beyond the obvious, and consider every possibility. My birding experience has taught me that no possibility is too outlandish. What might look like a finch could actually be a female cardinal, but how can you tell? Well sometimes, you just can’t. And that’s the beauty of nature. There are no absolutes, only ambiguity and possibility.
For some, exotic birds are the draw — macaws, flamingos, and the like. But my true passion is about backyard birding. Backyard birding shows us that the greenery we take for granted is in reality a privilege, and we ought to enjoy what is in our backyard instead of reaching for increasingly exotic species brought to market by unethical bird breeders. Backyard bird feeders offer us a glimpse of birds in their natural habitats — one nectar feeder was even frequented by a ruby-throated hummingbird last spring!
At the time when the world seems to spin faster than ever, birdwatching connects me with nature and pulls me away from the world of screens and deadlines. Because there is no deadline with a birdwatcher. Nature sets the clock, and nature’s humbling power reigns supreme.