Birding is a hobby that can be enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts or someone who is housebound. It is fun for kids or adults. It is perfect for people who are concerned about the environment or people who just like to relax and enjoy the beauty of little winged things. Since so many people enjoy bird watching as a hobby, it is likely that you know someone who keeps bird lists and seems to be personally acquainted with a ruby-throated hummingbird.
I have two birders in my family - my mom and my two year old nephew, who despite being barely able to talk will tell you in detail about the birds that came to the feeder that day. Because they both have birthdays coming up, I've been looking into some of the best gift ideas for birders. During my search, I have discovered that the challenge isn't finding an avian themed gift since there are thousands of products out there. The challenge is actually narrowing down the choices so you can get down to the business of buying and wrapping a gift.
Gifts for Young Birders
- Bird identification guide - A hefty encyclopedia of birds will probably so overwhelm a young child that he or she will become frustrated. That doesn't mean a bird identification guide is out of the question, though. Birds, Nests and Eggs by Mel Boring is a colorful and appealing little guide for ages four to eight that covers some of the most common birds children will see.
- Binoculars - Getting a little closer to the action is always fun. Sturdy, kid friendly gear, such as the Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Binoculars, will help kids feel like they are serious birders and will hold up when subjected to a lot of wear and tear.
- Bird feeder kit - If younger children have trouble hiking nature trails to look for birds, why not bring the birds to them? Even a simple thistle sock visited by some goldfinches can bring a child hours of viewing pleasure. However, children who are old enough to use a paintbrush will enjoy making and painting their own feeder using a simple pre-cut kit.
- Bird house kit - Having a place for even simple wrens to nest can add to your child's enjoyment. We love watching a bossy little wren stake out his territory each spring and hover around the bird house while his mate nests.
- Life list - One of the biggest challenges for avian enthusiasts is keeping track of which species they've seen. Bird Log Kids is a very nice little starter life list that is perfect for beginning birders.
Gifts for Grown Up Birders
- Specialized bird identification guides - If you know the birder in your life has a passion for hummingbirds or for woodpeckers, shopping for a guide that goes into that species of bird in great detail is definitely a great idea.
- Specialized bird feeders - A feeder that holds a basic seed mixture will attract pretty many birds. Suet feeders, thistle socks, small bird only designs and hummingbird feeders all will help bring even more species to the feeding area.
- Squirrel foilers - When you have bird feeders, it seems that you cannot escape having squirrels. Their antics are adorable right up to the moment they gnaw right through your expensive new feeders. Birders don't usually have one baffle. They have a collection of them. Despite that fact that most of them cannot stop a determined enough squirrel, people continue to collect the newest and best baffles and any serious birder that has feeders in the backyard will be happy to test a new one out.
- A good camera - Capturing a great shot of a rare bird at the feeder can be so fun and addicting that photography often joins birding as an avian enthusiast's favorite pursuits.
- A birding trip - If money isn't a worry, one of the best gifts for many birders is a hiking trip just for them. Spotting exotic birds in a far away location or hiking through nearby mountain forests with an expert guide can be a dream come true.
If none of these ideas work for you, there are many other related gifts you can buy. Just keep in mind that the best gifts will be those that can actually be used to pursue the hobby as opposed to those that are simply decorative.
Katelyn Thomas - If you can't find me in the spring, I'm out hiking through the wood with a few pounds of photography gear strapped to my back. In the ...
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