The Beauty of Birds: Why do we Birdwatch?

I've often wondered how people become birdwatchers. For me, it was a family thing. I grew up with parents who are keen birders, and so it was just natural for me to pick it up. Not everyone has such a similar environment growing up though, so what is the appeal of birds? In this article, I want to discuss some possible reasons for our interest in birds, and why we keep coming back to them.

A Fascination with Feathers

The reasons to love birds are as varied and numerous as there are species to look at. However, I think there are 3 key factors that every ornithologist, amateur or professional, can relate their passion for birdwatching to.

1. Alluring Avians

Birds are an incredibly diverse group of animals, both in location and appearance. In our local area alone we've had over 230 species, the British list stands at about 570, and around the world, there are an estimated 18000 different species of birds. If you then account for different plumages relating to age and season, interspecies hybrids and just the general individuality within a species, there is a near-infinite amount of birds to see. This creates the very basis of birdwatching, our natural curiosity. We look at birds to see what they are. Maybe we're searching for a new species, counting Eider for a survey or just looking for your favourite birds, the curiosity that makes us look and the excitement upon discovery is the essence of birdwatching. 

Another benefit of this great variety is the inevitable beauty that has evolved across the many species. Birds exist in all shapes and sizes with feathers coloured in every shade of the rainbow. This results in some truly spectacular species, from the humble iridescence of a Pheasant to the many coloured feathers of a Mandarin duck, and even the breathtaking plumage of a Bird of Paradise. Each species is delightful in its own way and this subconscious admiration and appreciation of what we see are what drives us to look at birds time and time again.

Goldfinch and Mallard, common birds for many of us but no less beautiful because of that

2. There are no walls in the sky

The fundamental basis of birdwatching is an appreciation of the natural world. Yet the same things that make us like birds apply to plants and other animals, so why is it that Ornithology is a much wider practised hobby than Botany or Mammology? Indeed, I would imagine many of us are equally interested in these areas, and yet our knowledge and experience are far more limited. 

The reason for this is, quite simply, birds can fly. There are obviously a few exceptions to this, but the common birds we all know and love are associated with the sky. This means there are no limits on where they can travel, and so birds are seen from coasts to cities and all the surrounding countryside. This enhanced mobility makes them easier to spot as well, whether in the sky or on a shoreline our eyes are instinctively attracted to their movement. Wherever you live you are always going to be surrounded by birds, and all we need to do is look out and see them.

3. The Gift of Flight

Whilst flight is a mechanic which makes birds so available and easy to spot, it is also something that enhances their natural beauty. Plants can be as colourful and as varied as birds, however, they are largely static organisms. Birds are the aerial masters, and their graceful glides, stoops, jinks and mighty soars are both elegant and breath-taking to behold. Alongside invoking a sense of wonder, I think we are able to relate on some level with birds, after all, they struggle and succeed in life just as we do. However, for all of our science, technology and philosophies, they will always have that which we do not, flight and the freedom that comes with it. I think on a subconscious level we are envious of this, and this primordial instinct is what drove us to develop our own methods of flight. Even now though, I think there is something wistful about watching a flock of birds take off, and because of that I think so long as birds exist, we will have a desire to watch them. 

Golden Plovers in Flight

Birdwatchers, one and all

From professional Ornithologists to those of us who watch garden birds from our kitchen window, there are many different ways in which we pursue our shared interest. We are all united though, and whether through curiosity, surprise, admiration or longing, we each have a passion for birds and proudly call ourselves birdwatchers. 

That seems like enough waxing lyrical for one article. I hope you were able to relate to some of these qualities from your own experiences, and I'd love to know how your intrigue for birdwatching came about.

(All pictures belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them)