/hob/ - Hobbies

>>62667
Here are the recent books I bought that I was talking about

>>62668
I've been interested in getting into birding recently. Thanks for the recommendations OP.

I was interested in this hobby nearly 10 years ago, I bought a field guide for my state and some binoculars, but then my anxiety overcame my desire to have fun. I was constantly worried about using binoculars outside in public; what if someone sees me, a weird adult male all alone, outside and gazing through binoculars? If anyone happens to see me and if any children or succubi are anywhere nearby, they'll think I'm a pervert on the prowl and will call the police or beat me up or record me to "expose" me online. Even if it's unlikely, the possibility creates too much anxiety for me to dare such activities.

I had hopes of searching for and finding all the birds in my field guide's check list, treating it like filling out the Pokedex in Pokemon games, but alas I am just too cowardly to have fun.

>>63909
Anxiety like yours prevents me from doing anything at this point

>>63909
OP here. I never had this problem in fact most people like to strike up conversations. Usually its just the old people since there the only ones who do this activity. I mostly just go on trails anyhow when I go out. Cant imagine anyone really paying you any attention outside of just seeing your binos. This is also coming from someone with pale skin , a shitty mustache ,and long unkept hair underneath a cap.

>>63909
The angles are all wrong, no one thinks birders are perverts because they look up. Birding around high rise buildings may be different, but wild areas have better birding

I watch deer out my window with binoculars sometimes. I should give birds a try.

>>63917
shhoot them eat them, tasty tasty doe flank

I don't really get birding.
After watching a bird for like a minute I am super bored and ready to do something else.

I've been birding for many years and been to almost every continent. You can ask me any questions if you like.
Here's a picture I took last year of a kingfisher. I'm still a bad photographer.

>>63987
you dont get curious at which birds have which names?

>>64447
how do i get started, do i get a bird field guide? I love birds but dont know anything about their names

>>64450
Yeah, you should definitely get a field guide for wherever you live and just leaf through it to familiarise yourself with what birds you have around you. Also look up what sort of habitats you have where you live, that way you know if you should be looking for shorebirds and herons if you live near water, or passerines if you live near forests, etc.
If you aren't familiar with phylogenetic trees and how living beings are sorted into species, genus, family, order, kingdom, phylum, etc. you should look it up first to avoid confusion.
This site has every bird species organised phylogenetically: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species
I suggest looking to see what birds you find interesting or familiar and investigating that family— seeing its different members, what they look like, what they eat, where they are distributed. If you're interested, you will develop a good knowledge base of bird forms in your area (or wherever interests you). Eventually you will get a feel for it and be able to identify birds quickly.

>>64452
thanks for the advice ill get a local field guide

I like staring at animals in general, but not too much, because i don't want to be rude.

>>64503
I stare until they submit or confront me.

>>64450
just get a sibley or peterson field guide that is located wherever you are.