A few years ago I read Franzen's The Discomfort Zone and didn't think much of his bird watching obsession -- "My Bird Problem," excerpted here. But as I read more Franzen, and as his personal profile got (much) bigger, everyone started associating bird watching with him. Clearly to become the next great American novelist, you must get into birding. Well, I'm in.
Besides the Franzen stuff, the other reason my interest was piqued is because JMZ has decided he's into birding. Living in the countryside as he does, he gets all manner of wild life. In fact, after years of prodding, the only thing he's used his Twitter account for is to throw up bird photos this past week. Already he's seen some cool shit and I'm jealous. I need to find out what's lurking in my backyard.
A big impediment to getting my new hobby started was that there wasn't a single pair of binoculars in my house. So of course I spent most of my afternoon yesterday researching binoculars online. After learning all the lingo and the specs, I'm ready to make a purchase. There's something lovably dorky about having fat binoculars hanging from your neck. It's so white grandparents right? I can't wait.
Oh I really can't wait; I just made a purchase. You are mine Bushnell Falcon 7x35 Binoculars with Case! Did you know that all binoculars can focus at infinity? That sounds really presumptuous until you realize technically it's true.
Things I already like about birding: it's cheap, it's something you can do anywhere, there's a weird stalker-y aspect to it, there's tech geekery involved, there's useless obsession followed by small thrills, there are clubs to join and plenty of resources online. It's something you can instantly bond with a fellow person about, like a not-so-guilty pleasure. And also, birding is so lame it's wrapped right back around to super awesome. I wonder how many hipsters bird. I'd bet a lot.
The biggest hurdles ahead for me are that birders tend to do mornings. I'm thinking I'd better become an owl specialist and get really good at identifying hoots. I think I'd also like to specialize in "ear birding," meaning identifying solely based on sound. Yesterday after I downloaded the app JMZ recommended -- iBird Pro, available temporarily for the low low price of $2.99 -- I lay with the window wide open, trying to nap but really concentrating on hearing all the birds outside my window.
See, here, I've just posted my first YouTube video ever to show you all the stuff that's potentially beyond the safety of my man-made walls. Listen carefully. There are at least a dozen different distinct tweets, and something hawk-y screeching around. I couldn't parse out any of them though, even with the app's help.
Things I already like about birding: it's cheap, it's something you can do anywhere, there's a weird stalker-y aspect to it, there's tech geekery involved, there's useless obsession followed by small thrills, there are clubs to join and plenty of resources online. It's something you can instantly bond with a fellow person about, like a not-so-guilty pleasure. And also, birding is so lame it's wrapped right back around to super awesome. I wonder how many hipsters bird. I'd bet a lot.
The biggest hurdles ahead for me are that birders tend to do mornings. I'm thinking I'd better become an owl specialist and get really good at identifying hoots. I think I'd also like to specialize in "ear birding," meaning identifying solely based on sound. Yesterday after I downloaded the app JMZ recommended -- iBird Pro, available temporarily for the low low price of $2.99 -- I lay with the window wide open, trying to nap but really concentrating on hearing all the birds outside my window.
See, here, I've just posted my first YouTube video ever to show you all the stuff that's potentially beyond the safety of my man-made walls. Listen carefully. There are at least a dozen different distinct tweets, and something hawk-y screeching around. I couldn't parse out any of them though, even with the app's help.
iBird Pro comes equipped with a really great array of ways to search for your mystery bird through visual cues, flight patterns, habitat, time of year, etc. The one I was forced to use sans binoculars was distinguishing birds through song and song pattern. Seems pretty easy until you look at the options. Is what you're hearing a buzz, a honk, a rattle, a prattle, a quack, a shriek, a warble? And is that then falling, flat, rising, or singsong? Who the hell knows, it all sounds like chirping!
I can't wait until my ear is attuned to the distinct voices of each of my feathered friends. Then I'll fucking know.
Note: I am not going to be one of those crazy birders who goes on trips and crouches in nature to see things. My goal is just to identify what's around me and to be able to name the interesting critters that pop up in the front/backyards of wherever I've traveling. I might be convinced to go on small hikes though. I mean, I hate walking for scenery but I'll stroll a few hundred yards to scope out a bird. This is going to be like real life Pokemon collecting, which is perfect because I was just lamenting the other day with a friend about how the iPhone really needs a good Pokemon port. No more, I have turned my attention to the creatures that God has created instead. What a feeling.
AMR says I may be going overboard here. He's saying I'll be over this in a week. But the thing is, unlike JMZ, once I pick something up I'm on it for awhile. That's the pattern. JMZ starts it but then I just keep going, never looking back even after he's dropped out after three laps. For example, things I could blame JMZ for: Wu Tang Clan, blogging, singledom, snowboarding videos, ramen. And oh so much more. (One of those is not true.)
Note: I am not going to be one of those crazy birders who goes on trips and crouches in nature to see things. My goal is just to identify what's around me and to be able to name the interesting critters that pop up in the front/backyards of wherever I've traveling. I might be convinced to go on small hikes though. I mean, I hate walking for scenery but I'll stroll a few hundred yards to scope out a bird. This is going to be like real life Pokemon collecting, which is perfect because I was just lamenting the other day with a friend about how the iPhone really needs a good Pokemon port. No more, I have turned my attention to the creatures that God has created instead. What a feeling.
AMR says I may be going overboard here. He's saying I'll be over this in a week. But the thing is, unlike JMZ, once I pick something up I'm on it for awhile. That's the pattern. JMZ starts it but then I just keep going, never looking back even after he's dropped out after three laps. For example, things I could blame JMZ for: Wu Tang Clan, blogging, singledom, snowboarding videos, ramen. And oh so much more. (One of those is not true.)
Update [5/25]: My first catch, a mighty Cassin's Kingbird! Albeit a baby. And dead. And the ants already got to it. Still, it's a start.
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