Lesser Getadamnfieldguide

It's 2021...a time unlike any other in recent history. Especially when we look at where we are in regards to technology being such a huge part of our everyday life. Cellphones with more tech in them than it took to put a man on the moon are everywhere. Technology has also brought social media into a vast number of homes, giving people tools to discover and learn a myriad of different things. 

Even birds.

That being said, is there really any learning going on? We can see the equation 2+2=4, but, have we truly learned anything unless we know WHY this is so? I don't mean to get philosophical here, but in my mind I'm hearing the analogy "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." The number of birding websites and social media pages is mind boggling as every region, every state and even backyards have their own presence on the internet.  Most all purport themselves to be places to 'learn and share'. However, my experience is that there is not a lot of learning going on. 

The naturalist world, in particular birds has more than its fair share of conundrums and enigmas to ponder. Experience is often critical to coming up with an answer to these questions. The opposite end of that spectrum is simply 'spoon feeding' identifications through these sources. Especially some of the most common birds. Is that truly a learning experience?

In asking for identification on a bird in question, the next step in that parade (imho) should be 'What makes it a ______?' What unique characteristics separate American Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler and Evening Grosbeak? Or, perhaps the person identifying the bird should answer the question more completely. Not just typing in an obvious answer that does not go any further than a veiled "I know more than you". Trust me, it's just how it sounds. And, usually it sounds that way over and over and over again. One correct identification is enough...threads of hundreds of response all chiming in, somewhat feeling the need to be amongst those who know. The answer given is also soon forgotten. 

I feel very strongly that birding and other naturalist pursuits do not translate well to a world where even "Instant Gratification" is deemed too slow. Especially frustrating are the inquiries from supposedly intelligent people on social media to identify birds one would have thought most folks would know just by osmosis. 

I've not counted, but, I'd be willing to bet that most primary school reading books at some point introduce the 'Robin Red-Breast' or just 'Robin' to their young readers. The American Robin is pretty much the "See Dick Run" of birds.....pretty ubiquitous by any measure.

I guess it boils down to wanting to learn something new. Perhaps 2020 and the global pandemic would afford people the time to, I don't know, READ A BOOK? Run an online search for bird ID classes? Download a very easy and very free bird identification app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology? Merlin allows you to upload a picture from your device, answer a few when and where questions and provides you with at least a few choices of what the bird is, if not the exact bird in question.

One of the leading binocular manufacturers now even have a device that you point at the bird and it will identify it for you! Swarovski Optik now makes something called the dG. It can interface with your smartphone and the Merlin app and identify your bird and even store an image of it for you.  Granted, they cost about the same as a mortgage payment, but, talk about instant gratification?  The fathers of modern ornithology are rolling over in their graves.

There was a time that you had to actually go out and LOOK for birds. Take a walk in the woods, along the shore; seek them out early in the morning. Mine them from the treetops like the feathered jewels they are. You had to want to go out and see birds beyond your backyard. You brought a pair of binoculars and something called a FIELD GUIDE. You'd see a bird and then quickly try and pin a name to it from the guide. It took a couple tries, but, you quickly learned to spend more time studying the bird before you started looking in the field guide. You know where the guides is, chances are when you look back up for the bird, it's gone with the next breeze.

Now, that does not mean field guides and binoculars are obsolete. Today's optics for bird watching are remarkable bright, colorful and sharp. The current crop of field guides are a skillful blend of artistic mastery and scientific acumen. This is HOW and WHERE you find out why a certain bird is that bird and a bit of it's natural history and territory. Authors like Kenn Kaufman, David Sibley and Richard Crossley have given us the keys to the world of birds around us.

Last, but by no means least, there is something called the joy of discovery. Something no website, technological marvel or social media page can provide. The thrill of figuring out for yourself, understanding what led you to that conclusion and having forever the process that got you there. Let's face it, if you can can tell the difference between a crow and a duck you're well on your way to being able to identify the birds you encounter.

So, the next time an exciting new bird shows up in your yard or while you're walking the dog, try figuring it out on your own before you post it it to some group on Facebook, where 218 people will give you a "like", give you the answer over and over again and third of them will disagree. Pick up a book, hell, search the image yourself, and when you identify it, know why you got that answer. It's called learning, something that seems to gone out of vogue all in the name of convenience, instant gratification or dare I say......laziness?