Bird question: reminiscing

Here's something to think about: why are you interested in birds? what got you interested? How long have you been interested?

Think about it and comment with your answer.

Here's my story:

When asked how I became interested in birds, I've usually said that I've always been interested in birds.
Eventually that became, that I've always been interested in things that fly. Anything that flies whether it be big or small. Flying has always fascinated me. Recently though, I've been thinking about it and trying to break it down as far as I can. I think I've done it. I think I've broken it down as far as it will go and found the basis for almost all my interests. They all share one thing in common.
I haven't always been interested in specifically birds. When I was younger I liked to wander more and explore different things. I've only been a true hardcore birder for about 8 or 9 years now. But looking at some of the other things I love to do, it all has one common interest. One thing that it's all connected to.
An interest in Magic. I've always had a strong interest in Magic; doing things that are seemingly impossible. When I was younger, I used to know every trick and routine in the book. I could predict a card you would select, make things disappear and reappear... you name it, I could do it. I was once a master of card tricks. You didn't dare let me shuffle a deck of cards before playing because, invariably, I would come out on top.
I've also had my dreams about magic. Not illusions like our Magicians can do but real Magic. Not making things seem like they've disappeared but really making them disappear. Waving my hand and making clouds vanish, controlling weather, being able to vanish from one place and appear, an instant later, one mile or hundreds of miles away. My favorite thing to pretend to do, was to become invisible. When you're invisible, nobody can see you and you can do whatever you want without anyone noticing.

I had one dream though that not even pretending could replicate. That was to fly. I have always wanted to be able to fly. Ever since I can remember. Not in a plane, or anything, but to fly without the use of anything. No planes, parachutes, helicopters, no mechanical or electrical devices. I just want to walk outside, take two steps and take to the air. To fly like the birds. That has always been my one dream that nothing could replicate.

When I was 6 or 7, my parents, knowing my interest in Magic, took me to see the greatest illusionist of this century. David Kotkin. Know by his stage name: David Copperfield.
I don't remember a lot from his show. Bits and pieces here and there. I do remember two illusions quite clearly though. His "Snow" illusion stuck because I love snow and I love skiing and here was this illusionist producing snow from nowhere right in front of me. The other, was when he produced his "Flying" illusion. That did it. It was a dream we both shared and one the seemingly came true. I haven't seen him since then but his flying illusion remains my favorite. Since then, I haven't found a way to fly myself so I expanded to anything that did fly. Birds became my special interest because they were easy to spot and watch and always a challenge to identify (something I also liked, a challenge). They became my way of living a dream. A dream that I will always have. If there was only one thing that I could do before I die, if I had only one choice, I would want to be able to fly out over the hills and valleys, over the plains, over the mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, over the tundra and back, without having to do anything more than just step into the air and fly.