Birding in the Adirondacks

           Wildlife and recreation in the Adirondacks often go hand in hand. While many think of hunting and fishing as the classic examples of this relationship, they exclude perhaps the Adirondack’s most notable wildlife opportunity: birding. I first became interested in birding when I found myself enrolled in a Senior Spring Ornithology class in high school. Each class consisted of a nature walk and after a week I was hooked. Similarly to hunting and fishing, it’s the prospect of success that draws one towards birding. The majority of our outings yielded nothing more than a couple of blue jays and thus my expectations should have adjusted. Of course, they didn’t and I returned to class each week with a renewed excitement.

            Many people share this same excitement at the prospect of spotting rare and beautiful species. A birder is particularly lucky to have the opportunity to search in a place like the Adirondacks. Even if the day brought no prize encounters it cannot be called a waste as any day spent in such a scene holds merit. Luckily birders in the Adirondacks don’t have to put up with many fruitless days as the region boasts one of most diverse collections of bird species in North America. Birders flock to the mountains each June for annual Adirondack Birding Festival. Held over three days, the festival offers visitors several full-day hikes through the wilderness categorized by potential bird encounters. One of the area’s main attractions is the Bicknell’s Thrush. The Thrush is a mountainous species that thrives on the Adirondacks high peaks. Birders make their way up to the summit of these mountains in the early morning hours in order to have the opportunity to glimpse the Thrush in its natural habitat.

 Bicknell's Thrush

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/bicknells-thrush

Any outdoor activity is essentially an excuse to immerse oneself in the wilderness and birding flawlessly serves this purpose. The diversity of bird species draws birders into an equally diverse array of habitat while the orchestral tones of the birds’ calls enhance the scenery.

Works Cited

ADK. "2015 Adirondack Birding Festival." Adirondack Experience It!Web. <http://www.adirondackexperience.com/events/adirondack-birding-festival>.

NY. "Birding in the Adirondacks." Visit NY.Web. <http://visitadirondacks.com/recreation/birding>.