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Young Birder Programs

A Bird's-Eye View

Flocking Instinct

by Francois Dewaghe
[from A Bird's-Eye View, August 1998, Beginning Birding Special Issue]

Youth [and beginner] birders are prone to birding alone. Many don't have friends who are interested in birding, and many don't have parents [or other family members] with the same feeling for birding that they do. Birding alone is good for learning the birds; it forces you to learn the birds for themselves without help. But even the most skilled birders need help and companionship from time to time, and the best way to achieve these things is through joining birding organizations. Joining birding organizations is as easy as meeting new people. All you need is a little courage and the right connections.

The first step in joining a birding organization is finding the right group. There are many organizations out there. Some of these are large, national organizations. For example, the National Audubon Society has chapters all over the United States. The American Birding Association (ABA) is another continent-wide organization. These organizations are large and are good for getting yourself started in birding organizations. These groups offer publications of interest to birders. The ABA sends its members a directory so they can find other members in their area, while Audubon chapters often offer bird walks and programs that are a good way to get started meeting birders.

There are also smaller, more local birding groups. These groups have fewer members and are more personal. In smaller organizations, it is easier to meet new people and create personal relationships with them. Some birding groups focus on certain aspects of birding and nature. Some are mainly for birding, some are ornithological groups, some are groups of nature photographers.

There is even a group for youth birders on the Internet, the Youth Birding Web Ring (check it out at http://udel.edu/~france/teenbirding.html).The correct one for you depends on what you personally enjoy doing. You can find information on most of these organizations on the Internet [including the links pages on this web site]. For those without access to the Internet, there are many other places to try. Offices in national parks and wildlife refuges, or in state parks, will usually have information on local birding groups. Birding magazines such as Birder's World, Bird Watcher's Digest, and Birding contain advertisements for many organizations, too. Remember, though, that you don't have to confine yourself to a single group. Joining multiple groups broadens your chances of finding a group with which you feel comfortable.

Most birding groups require a membership fee. These fees are usually small, but still they are fees, and fees mean money out of your pocket. Most of us youth birders do not have unlimited funds to spend on birding (binoculars, scopes, and field guides take up enough of of our money). So before joining a group and paying the membership fee, a good thing to do is to test the group out. The best way to test out birding groups is by either meeting people from the group, or going on a trip with the group. While out birding, watch for groups of birders. Caravans of cars and large passenger vans are good signs. Introduce yourself and talk to the participants. Meet the birders in the group; see what they are like. This way you get to see if they are the kind of people you would like to bird with. If your first impressions of the group are good, then try getting some information and going on trips the group is holding. You can get an even better impression of the group this way. Even if you don't end up liking the group or wanting to join, it is still good for networking.

Becoming a member of a birding organization is a great way to make birding even more enjoyable. You will improve your skill, meet new people, and make friends that will last a lifetime. Good luck, and I hope you find a new level of enjoyment in birding with your new group.

About the author: Frances Dewaghe is a student at the University of Delaware. A serious birder, he's a member of Bucks County Audubon and the Delaware Ornithological Society.