Despite the stereotype that birding is something that only elderly women with umbrellas do, a recent study completed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has shown that birding is an activity that is enjoyed by millions of Americans. In fact, this 2003 study showed that there are 46 million people in the United States ages 16 and older who are into birding. This is staggering when you understand that this is more than the average of people who participate in hunting and fishing combined.

Birding is an inexpensive, entertaining, and educating hobby. It’s a great way for people to slow down, get away from today’s stressful pace, and enjoy nature at its best. Many birders report that bird watching is a natural stress reliever that is as exciting as it is tranquil. The only thing that is really needed to get involved in birding is education on bird identification, a good pair of binoculars, a natural settings, and possibly a sunbrella if you are prone to getting sunburned if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

While it’s not required, many birders do invest in a camera. Photographing birds is a favorite pastime for many and some people have even turned into a career. Believe it or not, there is a market for bird pictures. These pictures are gobbled up by nature magazines, companies that produce greeting cards and calendars, and even textbook publishers.

Whether you want to make money from taking bird photographs or you simply want them to put in a scrapbook for your own enjoyment, it’s important that you know the best way to capture birds in a photograph. Great places to read bird photography tips is the Digital Photography School, Bird Watchers’ Digest, Outdoor Eyes, and Nature Photographers.

Here are two other resources you should view if you plan on taking up birding:

• What Bird – A glossary that contains definitions and birding terminology.
• Birding – This resource gives information that the beginning birder will find relevant such as bird identification, birding tips, bird fact sheets, and more.

Birding is a hobby that anyone, no matter their age, race, gender, or location can enjoy. No matter where a person lives, there are birds about. It’s just a matter of getting outside and enjoying them in their natural habitat.