Published 5:18 PM EDT Oct 29, 2016 People have, for probably thousands of years, wanted to live in Manitowoc and Two Rivers because of the natural resources available here. The forests, rivers and Lake Michigan all made this location attractive to wildlife and the people who were sustained by those resources. I think sometimes we forget that, and that it's in our own best interest to sustain nature. Saying that our area is important for wildlife is easy to do. What's harder is to quantify that and identify opportunities to make things better.

1. Watching Backyard Birds Magazine
2. Bird Watching Projects

RELATED: Two Rivers champion chess players reflect on coach RELATED: Manitowoc firefighter, citizen of year named RELATED: Stock the Shelves: How to donate The Manitowoc Harbor and its containment facility is a place that's enjoyed by both the public and wildlife, even though it's an artificial structure. That, and the nearby Little Manitowoc River mouth, are a pleasant place to walk, and there are plenty of birds to see. Thanks to professor Charles Sontag, we know exactly what birds and how many of them use that area, because he has been recording them almost every day for more than 40 years. Other people are aware of Sontag's daily walks and what he finds, and more and more birders visit the area. Lo and behold, it turns out more than 300 bird species have been seen there, and it may be in that regard the best single bird-watching place in Wisconsin. Birds, and not just gulls, use that area of lakeshore first as a migratory stopover site in spring and fall, and also a place to nest, although suitable habitat is limited. The containment was built to receive dredged soil from the harbor and lower Manitowoc River, not as a wildlife or recreation area. But people enjoy the walk, and birds of all kinds view it as an island on which they can forage for food.

The plants haven't been managed, and much of the land at the containment is dominated by non-native weeds like burdock, phragmites and purple loosestrife, and natives like smartweed and stinging nettle. The city established a dog park, and a few acres are mowed as lawn. Because of the tremendous use by birds, Woodland Dunes got together with several partner organizations, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, the City of Manitowoc and the Army Corps of Engineers, to discuss what could be done to improve the site for wildlife and make it more attractive and 'natural'-looking, but at the same time maintain the area for public use, including for walking, photography, bird-watching, kite flying, etc. The result is a project that will begin this fall. Some of the area will be enhanced for wildlife through the planting of native, songbird-friendly plants. The dog park will be unchanged, but some of the adjacent lawn will be converted to native shortgrass and plants that benefit native pollinators like the monarch butterflies that also migrate along the shore.

Within the grassy natural area will be planted groups of native shrubs and trees that feed and shelter songbirds. A trail will be mowed through the area so walkers can enjoy the plantings and see birds. On other areas in the containment, work will begin to manage all those invasive plants, and eventually more native wildflowers and shrubs will be planted. Signs will interpret both the human history of Manitowoc and its harbor and the nature that is found there. Several considerations are important in this project. First, it is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, so the city will avoid the expense of establishing and maintaining the plantings. Also, the city will have 3 fewer acres of lawn to mow.

Second, the project is flexible and can be adapted depending on future wishes of the city regarding use of the site. Third, the native plantings will discourage gulls and geese from using those areas; they like bare ground and short grass instead. In the long term, that will help manage those birds and their messes while encouraging the many species of songbirds. This fall, you will see signage explaining the importance of the harbor area to birds and the habitat improvement project. You may also see some of the lawn die off after treatment prior to planting native grasses and wildflowers next spring. Next year, you will begin to see some plantings of trees and shrubs, and work within the areas now dominated by the super-sized invasive plants, including planting of a cover crop of native grasses to discourage gull nesting. With a little management, the Manitowoc containment can become an even better place among the string of important migratory bird areas in Manitowoc County and still be enjoyed by the community at little or no cost to the city. We are excited to be a part of the project, and look forward to the impact these enhancements have in attracting visitors to the area.

Having the best birding area in the state is significant, but showing visitors that we recognize and care about this, and our quality of life, says even more. Jim Knickelbine is the executive director of the Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve.

People birdwatching on in Birdwatching, or birding, is a form of in which the observation of is a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like and, by listening for bird sounds, or by watching public. Birdwatching often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more easily detected and identified by ear than by eye.

Most birdwatchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons, unlike, who engage in the study of birds using formal scientific methods. A birdwatching tower in, Finland The first recorded use of the term birdwatcher was in 1891; bird was introduced as a verb in 1918. The term birding was also used for the practice of fowling or hunting with firearms as in 's (1602): 'She laments sir.

Her husband goes this morning a-birding.' The terms birding and birdwatching are today used by some interchangeably, although some participants prefer birding, partly because it includes the aspects of enjoying birds. In North America, many birders differentiate themselves from birdwatchers, and the term birder is unfamiliar to most lay people. At the most basic level, the distinction is perceived as one of dedication or intensity, though this is a subjective differentiation.

Generally, self-described birders perceive themselves to be more versed in minutiae like identification (aural and visual), molt, distribution, migration timing, and habitat usage. Whereas these dedicated birders may often travel specifically in search of birds, birdwatchers have been described by some enthusiasts as having a more limited scope, perhaps not venturing far from their own yards or local parks to view birds. Indeed, in 1969 a Birding Glossary appeared in magazine which gave the following definitions: Birder. The acceptable term used to describe the person who seriously pursues the hobby of birding. May be professional or amateur. A hobby in which individuals enjoy the challenge of bird study, listing, or other general activities involving bird life.

A rather ambiguous term used to describe the person who watches birds for any reason at all, and should not be used to refer to the serious birder. Birdwatchers at J.N.

'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Many birdwatchers occupy themselves with observing local species (birding in their 'local patch' ), but may also make specific trips to observe birds in other locales. The most active times of the year for birding in zones are during the spring or fall when the greatest variety of birds may be seen. On these occasions, large numbers of birds travel north or south to wintering or nesting locations.

Early mornings are typically better as the birds are more active and vocal making them easier to spot. Certain locations such as the local patch of forest, wetland and coast may be favoured according to the location and season. Is a type of birdwatching where observers based at a coastal watch point, such as a headland, watch birds flying over the sea. This is one form of birding, by which pelagic bird species are viewed. Another way birdwatchers view pelagic species is from seagoing vessels.

Weather plays an important role in the occurrence of rare birds. In Britain, suitable wind conditions may lead to, and an influx of birds from the east. In North America, birds caught in the tail-end of a hurricane may be blown inland. The, a classic bottleneck, seen from the mountains Monitoring Birdwatchers may take part in censuses of bird populations and migratory patterns which are sometimes specific to individual species.

These birdwatchers may also count all birds in a given area, as in the or follow carefully designed study protocols. This kind of can assist in identifying environmental threats to the well-being of birds or, conversely, in assessing outcomes of environmental management initiatives intended to ensure the survival of at-risk species or encourage the breeding of species for aesthetic or ecological reasons. This more scientific side of the hobby is an aspect of ornithology, coordinated in the UK by the. The hosts many citizen-science projects to track the number and distribution of bird species across North America.

These surveys help scientists note major changes from year to year which may occur as a result of climate change, disease, predation, and other factors. Environmental education. Birdwatchers watching Britain's fifth-ever at, 6 June 2007 Birding as a competitive event is organized in some parts of the world.

These are found to be more exciting by some. The birding competitions encourage individuals or teams to accumulate large numbers of species within a specified time or area with special rules. Some birdwatchers will also compete by attempting to increase their life list, national list, state list, provincial list, county list,. There have however been criticisms of such events especially when they are claimed to aid conservation when they may actually mask serious environmental issues. The was originally started as a club for 'listers', but it now serves a much broader audience. Still, the ABA continues to publish an official annual report of North American list standings. Competitive birdwatching events include:.

Big Day: teams have 24 hours to identify as many species as possible.: like a big day, but contestants are individuals, and need to be prepared to invest a great deal of time and money. Big Sit or Big Stay: birdwatchers must see birds from a circle of prescribed diameter (e.g.: 17-foot ). Once birds are spotted, birdwatchers can leave the circle to confirm the identity, but new birds seen may not be counted. Networking and organization Prominent national and continental organizations concerned with birding include the and in the United Kingdom, and the and the in North America. Many statewide or local Audubon organizations are also quite active in the United States, as are many provincial and local organizations in Canada. Is an important global alliance of bird conservation organizations. Many countries and smaller regions (states/provinces) have 'rarities committees' to check, accept or reject reports of rare birds made by birders.

Equipment and technology. Birders using a tower hide to gain views over foreground vegetation. Bay of Liminka, south of,.

Equipment commonly used for birding includes, a with, a, a notepad, and one or more. Hides (known as blinds in North America) or observation towers are often used to conceal the observers from birds, and/or to improve viewing conditions. Virtually all optics manufacturers offer specific binoculars for birding, and some have even geared their whole brand to birders. Sound equipment Recognition of is an important part of a birder's toolkit. Sound information can assist in the locating, watching, identification and sexing of birds. Recent developments in audio technology have seen devices shrink in both size and price, making them accessible to a greater portion of the birding community. The non-linear nature of digital audio technology has also made selecting and accessing the required recordings much more flexible than tape-based models.

It is now possible to take a recording of every birdcall you are likely to encounter in a given area out into the field stored on a device that will slip into your pocket, and to retrieve calls for playback and comparison in any order you choose. Photography has always been a part of birding, but in the past the cost of cameras with made this a minority, often semi-professional, interest. The advent of affordable, which can be used in conjunction with a spotting scope or binoculars (using the technique of, referred to by the ' ' or sometimes digibinning for binoculars), have made this a much more widespread aspect of the hobby. Videography As with the arrival of affordable, the development of more compact and affordable has made them more attractive and accessible to the birding community. Cross-over, non-linear digital models now exist that take high quality stills at acceptable resolutions, as well as being able to record and play audio and video.

The ability to easily capture and reproduce not only the visual characteristics of a bird, but also its patterns of movement and its sound, has wide applications for birders in the field. Portable media players This class of product includes devices that can play (some can also record) a range of digital media, typically video, audio and still image files. Many modern, and can be classified as. With the ability to store and play large quantities of information, pocket-sized devices allow a full birding multimedia library to be taken into the field and mobile Internet access makes obtaining and transmitting information possible in near real time. Remote birdwatching New technologies are allowing birdwatching activities to take place over the Internet, using robotic camera installations and mobile phones set up in remote wildlife areas. Projects such as CONE allow users to observe and photograph birds over the web; similarly, robotic cameras set up in largely inhospitable areas are being used to attempt the first photographs of the rare.

These systems represent new technologies in the birdwatcher's toolkit. Communication In the early 1950s the only way of communicating new bird sightings was through the postal system and it was generally too late for the recipients to act on the information. In 1953 James Ferguson-Lees began broadcasting rare bird news on the radio in Eric Simms' Countryside program but this did not catch on. In the 1960s people began using the telephone and some people became hubs for communication. In the 1970s some cafes, like the one in run by Nancy Gull, became centers for meeting and communication. This was replaced by telephone hotline services like 'Birdline' and 'Bird Information Service'.

With the advent of the, birders have been using the to convey information; this can be via, web-based and other media. While most birding lists are geographic in scope, there are special-interest lists that cater to bird-identification, 'twitchers', seabirds and raptor enthusiasts to name but a few. Messages can range from the serious to trivial, notifying others of rarities, questioning the taxonomy or identification of a species, discussing field guides and other resources, asking for advice and guidance, or organizing groups to help save habitats. Occasional postings are mentioned in academic journals and therefore can be a valuable resource for professional and amateur birders alike. One of the oldest, Birdchat (based in the US) probably has the most subscribers, followed by the English-language fork of Eurobirdnet, Birding-Aus from Australia, SABirdnet from South Africa and Orientalbirding. Several websites allow users to submit lists of birds seen, while others collate and produce seasonal statistics, distribution maps. Code of conduct As the numbers of birdwatchers increases, there is growing concern about the impact of birdwatching on the birds and their habitat.

Birdwatching etiquette is evolving in response to this concern. Some examples of birdwatching etiquette include promoting the welfare of birds and their environment, limiting use of photography, and playback devices to mitigate stress caused to birds, maintaining a distance away from nests and nesting colonies, and respecting private property. The lack of definite evidence, except arguably in the form of photographs, makes birding records difficult to prove but birdwatchers strive to build trust in their identification. One of the few major disputes was the case of the.

Socio-psychology. See also: considers birdwatching to be an expression of the male hunting instinct while links it with the male tendency for 'systemizing'. There have been suggestions that identification of birds may be a form of gaining status which has been compared with noted in Papua New Guinean cultures. A study of the motivations for birdwatching in New York concluded that initial motivations were largely similar in males and females, but males who participate actively in birding are more motivated by 'sharing knowledge' with others, and active female birders are more motivated by their 'intellectual' interest in studying birds, and by the 'challenge' of identifying new and rare birds and improving their skills. A study suggests that males leaned towards competitive birding while females preferred recreational birdwatching.

While the representation of women has always been low, it has been pointed out that nearly 90% of all birdwatchers in the United States are white with only a few African Americans. Other minority groups have formed organizations to support fellow birders and these include the Gay birders and the Disabled Birders Association. The study of birdwatching has been of interest to students of the sociology of science.

Watching Backyard Birds Magazine

Famous birdwatchers. See also: There are about 10,000 species of bird and only a small number of people have seen more than 7000. Many birdwatchers have spent their entire lives trying to see all the bird species of the world. The first person who started this is said to be. Some birders have been known to go to great lengths and many have lost their lives in the process. Spent her family inheritance travelling to various parts of the world while suffering from a malignant, surviving an attack and rape in New Guinea before dying in a road accident in.

She saw as many as 8,400 species. The birdwatcher who was leading a bird tour in was killed by a tiger in February 1985. In 1971 travelled around North America and saw 626 species in a year. This record was beaten by in 1973 who travelled 69,000 miles and saw 671 species and spent less than a thousand dollars. Ted Parker was killed in an air-crash in Ecuador.

In 2012 Tom Gullick, an Englishman who lives in Spain, became the first birdwatcher to log over 9,000 species. In 2008 two British birders, Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, gave up their jobs, sold their home and put everything they owned into a year-long global birdwatching adventure about which they a wrote a book called 'The Biggest Twitch'. They logged their 4431st species on 31 October 2008. Birdwatching literature, field guides and television programs have been popularized by birders like. In media The 2011 movie depicted three birders competing in an Area.

Bird Watching Projects

See also. Institutions:. References.