COVID has clearly impacted our lives in many ways. Anything from masking to avoiding indoor gatherings are indicators of our temporarily new world. We, as birders, are a subculture of the impacted world and it is not surprising if we have experienced some changes in our birding lives as well. So, the question here is:
Has the COVID19 pandemic impacted your birding life? If so, how has that occurred? Do you socially bird? Please give us a short answer in the comment section below:
Covid-19 has been an interesting time for me. I am relatively new to birding – only been really engaged for about two years. But, being at home more has given me time to practice identifying birds and observing behaviors (albeit from my bird feeders). I work at NAU, so whenever I am there I tend to watch the birds too, seems to be doing wonders for my mental health.
We have noticed more species, counted greater quantities, watched pecking-orders, seen seasonal changes and migrations. Fed more, watered more. A week ago we had 17 species and 76 birds in our backyard over a morning. Bird-watching has been a delights (perhaps the only delight)of this Covid-ravaged year. The virus has given the gift of a slower, quieter life, not that would wish this again on anyone!
I’d like to bird with others but I moved here right when covid started so all the NAAS events have been cancelled as well as volunteer bird walks at the state parks. Thankfully birding can be a solitary sport but I enjoy learning and sharing with others.
If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened my interest and curiosity about the life of birds.This began in April when I joined the Tucson Audubon Society’s annual Birdathon fundraiser. Because of COVID they opened the requirements to include backyard birding. I spent 5 days observing birds perched on the telephone wires I could see from my property. Thinking I would only see doves and finches, I counted 14 different species of birds perching on wires. I now spend as much time looking at wires as trees, which means I am always birding when I am outside. I even observed a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers who nested on the top of a utility pole alongside one of the busiest streets in Tucson. I might have missed this during the before COVID time. I am now much more observant of that which surrounds me. Thank you for this question.
Tina, I knew you would be the one to make lemonade out lemons. So good to hear from you and to see you have found joy in backyard birding.
Dennis
Not really, I never really attended Audubon meetings (I live in the middle of nowhere) and since I am near the Verde river, birds are nearby.
COVID has enhanced my birding tremendously. For the first few weeks, I hunkered down in my house. Then once I ventured out, it was complete freedom! Being outdoors – birdwatching – became as safe as my house. The only problem was bathrooms 😉 But, I’ve become good at figuring that out. That’s always a problem if you are birding out in the wild anyway… so it made me face it even more. When summer came, I got an RV and began birding and RVing across America. I remember filling out one of those High-school reunion forms and wondering when I became that person who wanted to RV across America. Well COVID summer of 2020 was it! Drove from AZ to TN; hearing Buff-collared Nightjar in SE AZ, and seeing Yellow-throated Vireo in TX. Through TN to MI where I finally saw Kirtland’s Warbler! Went from bird to bird, state to state. My favorite was hearing: Yellow Rail on a late night in the Pot-hole Prairies of North Dakota. Boreal Owl another night in the high country of Colorado. This has been a time I will never forget. A good time for getting out of my comfort zone and birding despite all obstacles.
Solo birding is a necessity now but I am looking forward to the time that we can do this with companions.
I hope that everyone has safe CBC’s.