We all know that birding is a wonderful hobby: it is fun, educational, and gets you outdoors. However, unless you are watching birds that happen to alight very near you, binoculars are required to see them well. And, even if you can see the birds, how can you know what they are without a field guide or phone app? If you are a novice, how can you know where to go to maximize your chances of seeing birds?
In partnership with the Timberland Regional Library, we at Black Hills Audubon have begun a project designed to help individuals and families who would like to experience birding but who are unwilling or unable to invest the funds to equip themselves—especially, as beginners, on an activity they aren’t certain they will enjoy. We have committed to provide Family Birding Backpacks to each of TRL’s 27 branches; for their part, the Library has agreed to circulate them, monitor and replenish their contents, and publicize their availability. Each backpack contains two pairs of good-quality binocs, a basic and a more comprehensive field guide to birds, copies of the three Audubon Great Birding Trail maps that correspond to our region, and a self-designed instructional booklet that briefly explains how to bird and use binoculars, providing information on lesser-known local birding sites. The packs also include laminated fields guides to local wildflowers and trees, birding checklists and feedback forms.
Currently these backpacks are available at six of TRL’s branches: Chehalis, Lacey, Mountain View, Olympia, Shelton, and Yelm. Some of them were paid for out of Board monies, others by donations. Special thanks go out to Bob Morse, who donated a case of his field guides for this initiative. We are currently writing grant applications to fund additional packs, which cost about $350 each.
The feedback we have gotten about these packs has been very positive: Library patrons have checked out the backpacks and have indicated they enjoyed using them. We have heard from some that the experience increased or renewed their interest in birdwatching. Please help spread the word about these backpacks to anyone who would benefit from borrowing them!