I think this experience -- whether factual or auto-fictional -- speaks heavily to the gamification of any and everything. It's not enough to admire the damn birds -- you've got to keep score too! And level up your equipment! And unlock new features! And achieve new goals!
Gamification's been discussed for a while now, so I'm not delivering a new insight here. But I think the connection you made between birding and Wordle at the end really drives the idea home.
Good story, Tom. just spent 30 minutes on Cornell's site looking for the small yellow throated pair I saw with my bins yesterday, flying high between tree tops in the our local refuge ... who knew there were so yellow throated small birds!
You all have to know, from Tom’s Mom, that he has been around birders all of his life. As a teenager we watched flocks of Grosbeaks at the feeder and listened to the drumming of Pileated Woodpeckers on the oak trees in the forest behind our house. I am a birder, his grandparents were birders and he would always say to me,” Who cares about some stupid tweety bird.”
Then Covid hit and with time on his hands, Benjamin’s recommended bins in his back pocket and me nearby, we would enjoy the Slough together. Can you imagine a mother’s pleasure when HE taught ME about the Common Yellowthroat and we both witnessed and confirmed the identity of two American Bittern on the wing?
“ Look Tom, is it two herons? No, neck not long enough. Ducks? No. I think it’s bitterns- yes, Look, two bitterns.” What a sublime moment between mother and son. Priceless!
It’s three years later and we still treasure the memory of identifying, beyond a shadow of a doubt, two American Bittern on the fly. Yes, Carl, we were sure.
If you are a parent I know there is a priceless memory that you share with a child. Is it spotting a Rufous Hummingbird, reveling in the flute like song of a Swainsons Thrush at twilight or some other joy?
Great article I missed the first time around! One of the guys I walk with each summer is a birder and always brings his serious DSLR camera and a collection of lenses. Which is fine, though he always ends up a mile or so behind the rest of us ... which then leads to the inevitable: ‘Where’s Alan?’ Someone will ask. ‘Probably staring at another nesting pair of Great Tits,’ comes the reply. And then it starts. There are some GREAT British bird names.
Oh I loved this!! 😄 I have taken to watching the birds from the window next to my desk as I work. We have everything from finches and orioles to turkeys and hawks in our back yard!
In our area, the Amish host a bird symposium which is well attended. I don’t think they promote the electronic gadgets!
Me, I wait for the birds to come to us. We’re in the middle of the country and get all kinds of wildlife who show up. The birds are the best - we get so many hummingbirds!
I think this experience -- whether factual or auto-fictional -- speaks heavily to the gamification of any and everything. It's not enough to admire the damn birds -- you've got to keep score too! And level up your equipment! And unlock new features! And achieve new goals!
Gamification's been discussed for a while now, so I'm not delivering a new insight here. But I think the connection you made between birding and Wordle at the end really drives the idea home.
It was a joy to read this again/anew. 🐦🦆🦅💛 🦃
Good story, Tom. just spent 30 minutes on Cornell's site looking for the small yellow throated pair I saw with my bins yesterday, flying high between tree tops in the our local refuge ... who knew there were so yellow throated small birds!
So glad to see you polishing those fiction chops again, Tom! I miss your stories.
Great story! I really loved this one.
You all have to know, from Tom’s Mom, that he has been around birders all of his life. As a teenager we watched flocks of Grosbeaks at the feeder and listened to the drumming of Pileated Woodpeckers on the oak trees in the forest behind our house. I am a birder, his grandparents were birders and he would always say to me,” Who cares about some stupid tweety bird.”
Then Covid hit and with time on his hands, Benjamin’s recommended bins in his back pocket and me nearby, we would enjoy the Slough together. Can you imagine a mother’s pleasure when HE taught ME about the Common Yellowthroat and we both witnessed and confirmed the identity of two American Bittern on the wing?
“ Look Tom, is it two herons? No, neck not long enough. Ducks? No. I think it’s bitterns- yes, Look, two bitterns.” What a sublime moment between mother and son. Priceless!
It’s three years later and we still treasure the memory of identifying, beyond a shadow of a doubt, two American Bittern on the fly. Yes, Carl, we were sure.
If you are a parent I know there is a priceless memory that you share with a child. Is it spotting a Rufous Hummingbird, reveling in the flute like song of a Swainsons Thrush at twilight or some other joy?
I can't tell if it's fiction or autofiction. Either way, it's wonderful. I too am a bird noticer. But I also understand how passionate people can get.
Great article I missed the first time around! One of the guys I walk with each summer is a birder and always brings his serious DSLR camera and a collection of lenses. Which is fine, though he always ends up a mile or so behind the rest of us ... which then leads to the inevitable: ‘Where’s Alan?’ Someone will ask. ‘Probably staring at another nesting pair of Great Tits,’ comes the reply. And then it starts. There are some GREAT British bird names.
Loved reading this again, Tom. The best part about this is not knowing how much is true or not, because bird people can be i n t e n s e.
Great story!
Oh I loved this!! 😄 I have taken to watching the birds from the window next to my desk as I work. We have everything from finches and orioles to turkeys and hawks in our back yard!
Love this, Tom! have a close friend who's big into birding and mostly I gently tease him for it but I'm starting to see the appeal.
What a great story!
In our area, the Amish host a bird symposium which is well attended. I don’t think they promote the electronic gadgets!
Me, I wait for the birds to come to us. We’re in the middle of the country and get all kinds of wildlife who show up. The birds are the best - we get so many hummingbirds!