It’s a bit early, but I have yet to encounter any other birders on my local bike trail or my rides through the local parks. That’s not too surprising, given that I encountered very few birders or bird watchers, either, in my former suburban Chicago neighborhood. Hopefully, when the weather warms up and more birds are migrating, I will encounter other birders, but odds are against it.
Birdwatching may be a very popular pastime, overall, at least according to the Department of the Interior, but I’ve only rarely encountered other birders when out in the field. Not sure where those other birders are hiding, but I rarely see them. This does concern me as to the overall health of one of my most cherished activities, though I have no hard data or numbers to quote, one way or the other. Are we birders growing more in numbers or less in numbers? I really can’t say, but I fear it might be the later.
Realistically, I don’t expect other folks to be as crazy about birding and bird watching as I am, but it would be nice to have a birding buddy or two. I am a social type and enjoy company. For me bird watching and birding is more fun when you share it with others. For instance, as I sit, here, writing, I can hear Sandhill Cranes migrating, overhead. It would be nice to share that sound with someone. Looking out the window, I can see Cardinals, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, White-throated Sparrows, a Nuthatch and more at my feeder. It’s a great sight, but only me to enjoy it and that is a shame. There’s plenty of room at my table for more
birding binoculars and I’m sure I can squeeze another
birding spotting scope in my kitchen, too.