Summer 2016 | Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 | Page 45

BIRD’S-EYE

VIEW
THE VIBRANT WORLD OF BIRD-WATCHING
CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF NATURE
LOVERS OF ALL APTITUDES.
BY SHARON BIGGS WALLER

LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP ROW: BONNIE TAYLOR BARRY; MARK HEIGHES; MARK BRIDGER; MIDDLE ROW:
SORU EPOTOK; TANIA THOMSON; GLASS AND NATURE; BOTTOM ROW: PAUL REEVES PHOTOGRAPHY; SHAUN WILKINSON; GLASS AND NATURE/ALL PHOTOS FROM SHUTTERSTOCK

A

n osprey plummets into the smooth,
glassy surface of the water, breaking
its tranquil flight for only a moment
to catch a fish. A raven soars high
above a canyon, dropping a stick to another
raven below simply for the sheer delight of the
game. A chickadee on a backyard feeder in the
Midwest calls to another in its eponymous song.
These everyday activities delight bird-watchers of all ages and skill levels, sending them
into the great outdoors to witness the inspiring
sights for themselves.
“Watching wildlife and their behavior is something that is hard-wired into people,” says Jeffrey
Gordon, president of the American Birding
Association (ABA). “We humans are innately
interested in having affection for other species.
It’s hard to find a person who wouldn’t enjoy
watching a deer or an eagle.
“It’s something we appreciate on a very deep
level. Watching birds is the same as looking at
a starry night sky or a meadow filled with wildflowers,” Gordon continues. “These experiences
take us out of our daily humdrum routine. It
helps us drop our cares and plug into the cycle
of the seasons.”
So why do birds, in particular, attract more

than their fair share of interest? Gordon
suggests that it’s because humans have always
been captivated by the feathered creatures’
ability to fly and migrate. “For instance, on
Georgia’s Sea Island, over the course of the year,
you have a constantly shifting tapestry of birds
migrating north and south,” he says. “Some
are always there; some are only there in the
breeding season. And there’s always a chance to
see a bird out of its usual range.”
Another reason many people are fascinated
with birds is because they share sensory
experiences with humans. “Birds have color
vision, like we do, and they have interesting
displays of activity and beautiful feathers,”
Gordon explains. “Most of all, they have a very
rich vocabulary—singing, calling and other
noises. Birds are so different from people,
but it’s odd that we share this sight-and-sound
approach to the world.”
Much more than just a passive activity,
developing knowledge of the visuals and sounds
of the bird world allows enthusiasts to become
active participants in nature. “Bird watching
includes listening, looking for feathers, nests and
tracks,” explains Dave Mizejewski, naturalist
and spokesperson for the National Wildlife

SPRING/SUMMER 2016 | SEA ISL AND LIFE 45