Knowledge isn't just "for the birds"
My boss was driving us back to Lincoln, Neb., along Highway 2 from meetings in Alliance and Chadron. Suddenly, near Whitman, a pair of large white birds with black beaks flew right in front of our windshield from a nearby pothole lake. After recovering from the fright of such a near miss, my boss said, “Wow! Big birds.” He was impressed. But in my case I was so excited, I could hardly even say “big birds.” As a matter of fact, my adrenalin level was at least as high as if I were at a Husker game and they had just scored a spectacular touchdown.
The reason for that excitement level was because, due to my involvement with the Audubon Society, I recognized that those weren’t just “big birds,” they were trumpeter swans. Trumpeter swans are a threatened species, once close to extinction, that are indigenous to the northern parts of the West Coast, primarily in coastal British Columbia, Canada and Alaska. I was aware that my edition of “A Guide to Field Identification, Birds of North America” stated that the swans were “Very rare outside of their breeding range.” I therefore felt that I had just experienced a once-in-a-lifetime bird observation. What a great experience for me. But just a stimulating driving and bird observation experience for my boss.
The difference in our levels of excitement was due to the differences in our levels of knowledge.
Once back in Lincoln, I felt it necessary to do some research to confirm such a phenomenal bird-sighting experience. Possibilities that seem too good to be true should be confirmed before reaching a final conclusion. My research indicated that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others had established a colony of trumpeter swans at the Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota. The objective of establishing this colony of swans so far from their traditional range was apparently because there was a possible danger that the species could be wiped out by West Coast climatologic dangers, such as earthquakes, tsunamis or other major catastrophes. The limited numbers of the species made them susceptible to such catastrophes.
But even knowing about the relocation of the species, the question still existed as to why we would see the birds 70 miles south of the Lecreek National Wildlife Refuge in Whitman, Neb. By luck, a few months later the Omaha-World Herald environmental columnist did an article on the establishment of the relocated colony of birds and how they had been healthily and successfully expanding. The expansion of the colony had led to the birds migrating from the wildlife refuge to many of the Sand Hills pothole lakes in Nebraska for nesting and, as was evidenced by our fall encounter with the birds, for periods after nesting until the pothole lakes froze over. The timing of the article suggested to me that I was probably not the only person who had spotted and was curious about the swans.
Some folks believe that bird-watching is a rather sedate and dull pursuit. However, in comparing my reaction to seeing the swans to that of my boss, it can be noted that the more you know about something, the more exciting it seems. And that philosophy applies to nearly all activities.
Using Husker football as an example, one can go to a game and enjoy the excitement of the game and the crowd. The excitement and actions of the crowd feeds your own enthusiasm for the event. But there is a significant difference in the level of excitement experienced by a spectator who wonders why the football teams have changed their direction on the field at the quarters as compared to a spectator who has enough knowledge of the game to read the referees’ signals or who knows the difference between a touchback and a safety. The more you know about the game, the more you enjoy it. Of course, it also helps when the Huskers win.
The same differences in excitement level occur when watching birds. If you have an average level of knowledge, it is enjoyable to see colorful birds or to watch birds at a feeder. But if you are a bird-watcher who can spot the difference between a sparrow, a kinglet or an American goldfinch in its winter plumage, the level of excitement in seeing the birds increases significantly. And if one happens to identify that some common redpolls, not sparrows, have come far enough south for you to see them in Nebraska, the level of excitement rises to an even higher level. Depending on one’s knowledge of the birds you are seeing, your level of excitement can be raised as high as if you are spotting a trumpeter swan, or as high as if you got a seat on the 50-yard line to a Husker game… and they win.
The point is, having knowledge of what you are participating in creates the fun and excitement we experience. Knowledge is essential to our level of enjoyment. That applies to any activity we participate in, including bird-watching. And continuing the effort to learn is how we obtain the increasing knowledge that increases our fun and excitement. Membership and participation in a bird-watching club or the Audubon Society is not only a good way to gain the knowledge to increase your enjoyment of birds but it is also a way to multiply your fun by sharing the enthusiasm with the crowd. The “crowd,” in this case, is the many, many members of the bird-watching society rather than the Nebraska stadium football fans.
Whether you want to participate in bird-watching, football or any other activity, keep increasing your knowledge to increase your fun. Knowledge isn’t just “for the birds,” it’s fun and exciting.
This article is provided by a member of Wachiska Audubon Society and features writing related to nature, the seasons and relevant environmental issues. For more information, visit http://www.wachiskaaudubon.org.
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