After our morning walk, Janet asked, “Do you consider yourself a birder or a bird watcher?”
Actually I have never thought about it. I just go out and look for birds. Besides, what’s the difference? Aren’t they simply two different terms for the same thing? Later I gave more thought to Janet’s question. I recalled that when my interest in birds was just beginning I never referred to myself as a bird watcher. To me that term had slightly negative connotations. There was a stigma attached. Bird watchers were little old ladies in tennis shoes, plain Janes. They were the objects of disdain—dowdy, old-fashioned, fuddy-duddies. Nothing like me. So I never used the term, especially around people who had no interest in birds. I did not want to be considered odd, or mousey, or different. I shuddered at thought that others might compare me to Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. Ugh.
Others in the birding community had a similar reaction to the term. The American Birding Association and other groups attempted to update the image of the hobby and began to promote new terminology. I started to hear the term “birder” being used. “To bird” became a verb. This new nomenclature seemed more modern and acceptable to the mainstream than “bird watching”. It seemed to project a new image. So I became a birder and went birding.
In reality, “birding” is actually the older term. According to Merriam-Webster, bird-watching did not appear until 1894, whereas birding dates back to at least the 16th century. Of course, at that time the term had a more deadly meaning. To speak of going birding was akin to going fishing. You were seeking food, not pleasure. A second definition was to raise birds, as, maybe a chicken farmer.
Of course when I talked to non-bird people about being a birder, they would still give me a strange look. They had no idea what a birder was. When I explained, they usually said “Oh, you’re a bird watcher!” and moved to a different part of the room.
However, as birding has become a more common and acceptable term to the general public, a certain element of birding has acquired a slightly negative connotation among bird people. Some overly serious birders, or hot shots, are perceived as pure listers, primarily interested in adding a new checkmark to their life list, and not in enjoying the birds. They are extremists who can give everyday birders a bad name.
Recently Cornell Lab of Ornithology coined a new word for some elements of birding: a citizen scientist. I have a scientific background so I kinda like the term. However, it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. And it can project the image of a mad scientist in his laboratory or of an antisocial nerd spending lonely hours collecting minutia.
So now I am totally confused. I’ve gone from a nature lover to a closeted bird watcher to a birder with a touch of scientist on the side. What am I?
What about you? Do you consider yourself a bird watcher or a birder?
About the AuthorHank Weber is a retired business executive who has nothing to do all day except relax, watch birds, and enjoy life in the Hudson River Valley, just 20 miles north of New York City. Some call him an unemployed bum. Others mostly ignore him.
I have been birding for 22 years. It means I am interested in all aspects of birds. I photograph them. I feed them and watch them eat, nest, migrate. i join groups of people online and in my area that enjoy this subject. I travel to other areas to see different species then in the area i live. I get involved in projects Cornell has to improve information about the study of birds. It is fun and educational ??
Ginny H
This has always struck me as one of the silliest debates in birdwatching. People will make arguments for and against both terms. They will try to make one sound superior over the other. People will get passionate about their argument. None of it matters.
When dealing with people in my daily life I find the term bird watcher is better understood but non bird enthusiasts. If I use birder, people will sometimes give you a quizzical look. I don’t worry if someone considers me odd, nerdy, boring, or a fuddy duddy. I’m not 14 anymore. If they want to judge me, that’s their problem. I’m going out to look for birds.
I agree that there seems to be a pretty large segment of birders who appear to be more about “the list” than actually enjoying what they are seeing, other than as a tick mark on the days checklist. Which is fine. If this is the aspect of the hobby you enjoy, then that’s great.
Myself, I tend to hover in between birdwatcher and birder I think. While I do keep a list of the day’s sightings, I’m much more casual about it. Don’t really care what my life list, state list, county list, totals are. I’ll upload to iBird more as a way to reflect on the birds of the day. Or one that eluded my stunning ID skills. Lol.
And I spend more time watching what some others may consider a common bird, like a catbird or kingbird. Today I spent 5 minutes watching kingbirds hawking bugs, where others would have likely forged on looking for the next bird. It was just pretty cool to watch them.
Could be a reason I usually go by myself, or maybe with just one other who’s used to my more casual approach. 🙂