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Mar 20, 2009 | by Kevin Loughlin
I was reminded this morning of how important it is to share nature with everyone you meet. There has been an ongoing discussion on the Birdchat Listserv community about the number of birders/birdwatchers in the USA. My opinion? Nearly everyone enjoys birds. From the old man in the park feeding the pigeons, to the backyard feeders to the world traveler with expensive optics… they all count!
“Birdwatchers” as well as “Birder-watchers” come in all shapes, sizes, ages and any other descriptive form. Many people who enjoy nature may not know exactly what they are seeing, but they know if a birder is excited about something it may be worth a look. I have often shown Bald Eagles to folks in my area and they were shocked to learn that they could even be seen there.
Others know what -should- be in the area but never seem to find things on their own. When I travel outside the USA I am always pleased with what many folks know to be around them, even though they do not always get the opportunity to see…
All eyes were on the clouds waiting for the bird to reappear. When it did, I yelled “ANDEAN CONDOR!” The aged grandmother, followed by the rest of the family right down to the toddler, poured from the little truck and looked up hopefully. I handed the grandmother my binoculars and a gasp came from her as she quickly found the bird like an expert. All were silent as we shared the moment. Tears fell from the old woman’s eyes as she held my hand and profusely thanked me for allowing her to see their national symbol through my binoculars.
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What a great story! What a great experience…and gift to have been able to give (and receive!) Wow.