Different hobbies attract different types of people. Some of the communities built around pastimes can be categorized or stereotyped as all sorts of different things.  Let me tell you this right now, it’s fair to label birders and bird watchers, as absolute crazy people. The term “crazy” can have a lot of different meanings. I’m not talking about the mentally unstable kind of crazy, but rather the kind of crazy more in line with fanantical passion that other people not involved in the hobby may mistake for mental instability. Before you get too upset about this declaration, I know a thing or two about the craziness of birders, because I in fact am one. This will not be a post chastising birders and bird watchers but rather a celebration of all the weird and wacky things that birding can drive you to do. Here are five reasons birders and bird watchers are crazy people.

They Wake Up Early

If you’re anything like me, you aren’t a big fan of getting up early, and few things can persuade you to do so. One of those things is birding. While birds are active throughout most of the day, the early part of the morning is when they are most energetic and vocal; meaning that morning is usually the best time to go birding. This often means maximizing your day will require getting up before sunrise to make sure you arrive at your destination in time to catch the bird songs ringing in the first light. Furthermore, sometimes the days start even earlier than near sunrise if your destination is farther away, more on that in just a minute. The fact of the matter is that to get the most out of birding, a lot of times it will mean waking up extremely early, which people usually only do voluntarily when they are extremely passionate about something. Dare I say, crazy about something.

They Take Long Trips

Another wild thing that hardcore birders routinely do is travel great distances in the pursuit of birds. This can be going to a particular hotspot or on a journey to see a particular bird that happens to be far away. This is especially the case for rarities both locally, and even on the national level. One of the longest trips I ever went on to see a bird was driving from eastern Wisconsin to Iowa to try and find an extremely rare Tundra Bean-goose. It’s not just driving long distances though that make birders a bit crazy, its’ that they also take planes just to see rare birds. A Stellers Sea Eagle on the East coast, and a Small-billed Elaenia in Illinois are just two examples of birds that people took flights from across the country just to check off their list. For rare birds, it’s not uncommon at all for people to travel exceptional distances, and I think that’s pretty crazy, but admittedly, a long road trip to see a bird makes for a great time, especially when you find the one you’re looking for.

They Go on Birding Vacations

In the same vein as road trips and flights to see a bird are what we at badgerland birding call “birdcations.” These are vacations specifically for the purpose of going birding. This is actually way more common than you might think as certain regions of the United States and different countries are major meccas for ecotourism. One such area in the United States in the Rio Grande Valley were birders flock from all over the country to explore the area and view some of the many rare bird species that call South Texas home. Other hot spots for birders to vacation to are Arizona, Costa Rica, and Columbia. You have to be pretty passionate  about a hobby to center your entire vacation around it, and that’s exactly what many birders do.

They Go to Weird Places

Undoubtedly one of the most peculiar things about birders is the places that they are willing to go to find birds. Of course some of these places are beautiful and picturesque. Others however, are well let’s just say, not so majestic. One of the most hilarious places birders find themselves going are landfills. Landfills are goldmines for different scavenging species such as gulls and birds of prey, but telling people you’re spending the day at the dump will definitely get you some weird looks. Other odd places birders go looking for birds are flooded fields, roadsides, sod farms, and even other people’s houses for rarities that show up at home bird feeders. To non-birders, going to these places is a very weird thing, but in my opinion the strange places birding takes you is actually one of the most enjoyable things about it. What other reason would you possibly have to go to a sod farm or a landfill? The strangeness of it, is what makes it fun.

They Do Whatever it Takes to Find Birds

Probably the most crazy thing about birders and bird watchers is the way they do whatever it takes to find the bird they’re looking for. While this is a broad statement, I can think of several examples of birders doing things normal human beings would consider to be too much for the sake of just seeing a bird. This can range from going into difficult terrain such as steep grades, to having to hike for miles on trails. One particular instance I remember in which I did something a little crazy to see a bird was when I walked through fields filled with burs and other weedy plants to find a Nelson’s Sparrow. Was it worth it? Absolutely!

Another way in which birders do whatever it takes to find birds is braving the weather. Not only is it rain and snow that birders are often willing to go out in but also bitter cold and sweltering heat. We have experienced both ends of the spectrum. I distinctly remember the sub zero temperatures of the Sax-zim Bog as we searched for Great Gray Owls and other boreal birds. In spite of the cold, that was an awesome trip and really goes to show that birders will brave some awful weather and venture into some wild places to find birds.

Summary

In all, birders really do some crazy things. From the early mornings, to the long trips, it’s an extremely adventurous hobby and the most “out there” things about it are what make for the most fun. Of course not all birders and bird watchers are hard core enough to do these types of things, but as a whole, to get the most out of birding, I think you have to be at least a little bit crazy. 

Are their any other crazy things birders do that we missed? Let us know in the comments below and as always, thanks for reading!