Do any of you go birding with a young (i.e. under 25) birder at all?
I very often find myself on my own. Do I like it that way? I don't mind it. Sometimes it's better because you can stay out as long as you please without having to worry about someone else's schedule. However, I like birding with other people just as much as the next person. While I don't have any one person who I go birding with all the time, there are several people who I'll call from time to time depending on where I'm going that day. Bird club and Audubon field trips are also fun ways to get out birding with other people. I have attended many and now occasionally lead them.
What about young birders you ask? Unfortunately, they are scattered; few and far between. Most are concentrated around cities. I am fortunate to live only a few hour's drive from Chicago where there are 4 YBs I know of. It is still a long ways to drive just to go birding though. With the Ancient Murrelet currently in Southern Michigan, I took the opportunity to spend a couple days birding with a couple YB friends. I'll usually take any chance I can get since I don't get to go birding with others my age very often. Since we're all so scattered around the country, we usually end up seeing each other only during camps and conferences, or specially arranged trips or wild chases. Just a random birding day doesn't really make it economical to pull off. I'm only fortunate in that some of my good friends don't live all that far away. Others aren't so lucky.
Do you know a young birder? someone who you've birded with from time to time who hasn't been able to find anyone their own age to bird with? Direct them here, and I'll see what I can do about introducing them to the network.
Anyway, some things for you to think about. You are welcome to comment with your answers, questions, stories, ect. I'd love to hear them.
Happy Holidays and Happy Birding!
