Faraaz Abdool leads us on a journey of reconnection; and encourages us to find joy, beauty and commonality in nature. Birding, he advocates, is an easy entry to nature, and to “being.”
TO wrangle the disciplines of ecology and philosophy and neatly package seemingly diverse teachings and guidelines seems improbable and ambitious with lofty, unattainable aspirations. Let us not overthink it as we set out on this journey of being. Let us not think about it at all.
Before we can explore the concept of being, let’s consider why we should cast attention toward birds. Of all the nature-based activities on offer, what makes birds so special; why is the reader being coerced into birding? For starters, it is extremely likely that you have noticed a bird before. Familiarity, check. They are literally everywhere: every habitat on almost every continent. They are probably the most noticeable creatures of the natural world, infiltrating even the most urbanized areas. We have national birds and state birds; birds in popular culture, and birds depicted in ancient art. Significance, check. They’re also colourful, adorable, and charismatic creatures, remnants of a prehistory so far removed from our present lives that they border on timeless. Wonder, check.
Nature is all around: but where did it go?
As children, when we are born, we are surrounded by images of nature adorning everything from crib to pyjamas – an endless parade of animals and trees are the décor for a benign world. Images from nature welcome us into the world. Unfortunately for many of us, as we age, we gradually drift further away into a materialistic, manufactured world. Consequently, we can feel lost and disconnected as our only relationships are increasingly with our own species and devices. Birds are the most convenient cornerstone in forging a reunification with the natural world.
[caption id="attachment_976038" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Birders inspect the mangroves at Petit Trou Lagoon, Lowlands. - Joanne Husain[/caption]
It has long been proven that spending time in nature is a healing activity. The concept of birds being therapeutic is gaining further traction, especially with the recent publication of the book “Ornitherapy” by Holly Merker, Richard Crossley, and Sophie Crossley. However, one cannot simply go birding and expect benefits, whether immediate or belated. Let us, therefore, consider ‘how’ birding should be engaged to produce the best results.
We are a competitive species. This might be one of the more difficult traits to leave behind as we are conditioned to venerate those who have gained the most, scaled the insurmountable obstacle, and so on. Ranking systems permeate almost every aspect of our lives, and we all desire to be number one. Even within birding, counting species has led to quantifiable life lists, some aspire to be the top eBirder in their county, state, or country. This in turn has encouraged some folks to go to astounding lengths to see as many species as possible, leading sometimes to treading unethical grou
