Need a new hobby? Try bird watching. We live in a great place for it!
Have you ever considered bird watching as a hobby? It has much to offer. A recent article in the March issue of the The Ruralite magazine talked about the merits of Spring as a Prime Bird Watching Season. And here in the American West we have one of the best places in our country to view birds.
There are over 900 species of birds in North America. Over ¾ of them are found here in the West. For instance, 15 of the 319 species of hummingbirds are found in the West.
Some viewing areas near Cottonwood include: Tolo Lake , White Bird Battlefield, Pine Bar Recreation Area, & Fish Creek Nature Trails. Of course there are numerous bird species right at Dog Bark Park. Right now we are primarily seeing Robins, California Quail, Killdeer, Meadowlarks, Finches, Kestrels, & Doves.
Bird watching is a great activity which requires very little in the way of equipment (binoculars, spotting scope will do). A good guide book helps in identification. Here are two suggestions: Birds of Idaho Field Guide and Idaho Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species.
Birds are everywhere. You don’t have to go far to enjoy this pastime. You can start right in your own backyard! If you develop a passion for this activity, then you can branch out to waterways, coastal areas, forests, fields, mountains and deserts.
Quoting from the Audubon website, “Outside your door, on your way to work, at the beach—birds are everywhere. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first pair of binoculars or an experienced birder in search of identification tips, we have it all here for you. So go on, start exploring.”
Idaho has many possibilities to offer in the way of bird watching. “Its scenic landscapes and unique geologic features, with large lakes and wild rivers, rugged soaring peaks, heavily timbered forests, and high desert seas of sagebrush interspersed with oasis for migrating and wintering birds, combine to make Idaho a highly desirable, and under-appreciated, birding destination.”
These sites will also provide good information: Visit Idaho Website Birds of Idaho
Happy Birding! And thank you to VisitWhitebird.com for some of this article’s content.
