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You know, I've never thought about separating the two - birding, and learning about birds...They seem to go hand-in-hand so naturally! You see a bird, you get all excited, you want to know what it is, followed by *everything possible about it*! 🤣 I'm very glad you have that super-power, and that you found it described by another enthusiast, that's so perfect :)

And thank you for sharing the quote from my essay - although it is quite sad, I think that sometimes sobering reminders are important, too :)

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Most of the birders I know do try to learn about birds and some are very knowledgeable indeed. Quite a few though, while being far better field identifiers than I am, pursue it as a sport with league tables and contests. They will arrive at the location of a rare bird that they "need", see it, tick the box and move on. All the more so if they are doing a Big Day and trying to see more species than anyone else in a given area in a day (or a week or a year). It can be quite competitive ... and I have played the game too in past years. But you play to your strengths and all birders care about birds at the end of the day. Actually, your red bird lady is not unique - partly because for many people it's not that they don't care but that they don't see because they don't know how to look.

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Of course, the competition aspect. That's never been a thing to me, but we've always enjoyed birding (and other plant & wildlife identification) as a family activity, vs. being in groups where it's more of a specific hobby. It's definitely human nature to be able to turn anything into a competitive sport :)

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I ❤️ Song Sparrows! we have a pair of them that seem to nest year after year in the 8ft high Laurel hedge we share with our bird loving neighbor. By mutual agreement we delay power clipping it until the peeping inside has stopped and the fledgeling have had time to leave the nest. They all love thistle we discovered.

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Really nice essay and photos Richard. I'm looking forward to the return of the Song Sparrows here in Ottawa. I like hearing that signature call the males make - usually from the top of a tree or hedge.

Looking forward to your other substack as well!

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Thanks Neil

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