There is no hobby which can be compared to ornithology when it is a matter of getting together with other people, learning to distinguish birds from different species. When you know a person who loves to do this, present him or her with something they can use which matches his area of interest. Simply watch the items bird watchers take with them when they venture into the woods.
Probably a hat is one of the easiest and least expensive items to buy. This can be a good idea as it should improve their vision and act as a sun blocker too. Another very useful gift is a pair of cargo pants with multiple pockets which allow them top carry snacks and other necessary bits and pieces.
A bird watching vest is another item which has more areas to store items than a pair of combat pants. They can put their cell phone on one pocket, snacks, water, map, and insect repellent and more on the others making it within arm’s length instead of taking this out of the back pack. If you know their back pack is already worn out, perhaps you get can them a new one. Backpacks come in various sizes and you do not require a large one since these people travel light. Binoculars are perhaps the costliest, but the most appreciated, gift you can give to a bird watcher. This is because a decent lens allows the user to see farther and wider. Some models are very ‘high tech’ and allow image capture and the use of specialist lenses that allow night-vision use. Since birdwatchers usually log which species they see, where and their numbers, so a bird watching journal could be a great idea for a present.
If none of these ideas work for you, have you ever thought of buying an ornithologist a one year subscription to a bird watching periodical? Published on a monthly or quarterly basis, these magazines carry lively pictures and information on birds found in places where he has never been. Those who can spare some cash can even send the person off on a bird watching vacation perhaps up north in Canada or down to South America. Of the many thousands of species of birds, only a fraction of these are indigenous to the US, many never visit the continent at all.
So what should you buy and what would be most preferred gift? A short conversation will already give you several ideas, and then you just have to pick the right one that is within your budget and meaningful to the person. It’s possible that during the course of your shopping, you might learn to appreciate bird watching yourself. Rather than admiring such people, you would soon be joining their group.
Tags: , back pack, backpacks, binoculars, bird watcher, bird watchers, birds, bits and pieces, cargo pants, combat pants, decent lens, image capture, insect repellent, necessary bits, night vision, ornithologist, periodical, pockets, quarterly basis, snacks, vest