I didn't wake up this morning expecting to be white-knighting birdwatchers, but at least they get outside, in nature. Hiking and all that. Better than examining small pieces of paper coated with adhesive with a magnifying glass.

Not a birdwatcher myself, but you're calling the people who travel to the apparently kidnapper-rich jungles of the Philippines to see rare wildlife more boring than stamp collectors?

You must know some interesting stamp collectors.

cgraves67: I didn't wake up this morning expecting to be white-knighting birdwatchers, but at least they get outside, in nature. Hiking and all that. Better than examining small pieces of paper coated with adhesive with a magnifying glass.

I'm fine with white-knighting them. My girlfriend camps in the Alaskan tundra every year for bird related research, and has to carry a shotgun to fend of the grizzlies. Not very boring.

Plus, if I don't stick up for birdwatchers, she may find out and withhold the sexy time.
Or shoot me.

Erix: Not a birdwatcher myself, but you're calling the people who travel to the apparently kidnapper-rich jungles of the Philippines to see rare wildlife more boring than stamp collectors?

You must know some interesting stamp collectors.

Back in '92, me and Frederick were on the search for a rare printing of a 1884 stamp of the Statue of Liberty. We managed to track down a little old lady, she must've been at least 90, who still had her grandparent's love letters. Well, we talked to her for a while - she made good tea but her cookies were terrible. Anyway, we convinced her to let us look at the stamps, and there it was. But it was a family keepsake, helping this sweet old woman remember her grandparents, and she didn't want to sell it. So we kicked the crap out of her and took it. Good thing we didn't give her our real names.

"I saw a bird today!"

"You saw what?"

"A bird! I was watching for birds, and sure enough, I saw one!"

"Holy Christ on the moon, that's amazing!"

/assumes this is how birdwatchers talk

DecemberNitro: "I saw a bird today!"

"You saw what?"

"A bird! I was watching for birds, and sure enough, I saw one!"

"Holy Christ on the moon, that's amazing!"

/assumes this is how birdwatchers talk

In my experience it's more, "I saw a blue billed, yellow bellied, orange wing finch!" "No! I've been trying to find one for 20 years! Those are really rare, where did you see it?" "...I hit it with the windshield of my car going 75."

Okay, maybe not the last part.

Bird watching can take you to some of the dullest places.



Chuckwallas, too.

Yeah, who would want to kidnap someone who's hobby involves buying $2000 scopes, $1000 binoculars, goes on trips to far off lands, and still has enough money to hire someone to show them around?

/ Birdwatcher
// With cheap-ass $90 binoculars

Chinchillazilla: How is birdwatching more boring than stamp collecting? NOTHING is more boring than stamp collecting.


Depends on the type of stamp. Link (new window)

canyoneer: Bird watching can take you to some of the dullest places.

[images.summitpost.org image 500x375]

Chuckwallas, too.

There probably isn't a Starbucks anywhere near that!

I'm joking, of course. Where is that picture from? I'm thinking maybe Southern Utah?

Stamp-collecting is so boring that not collecting stamps is my hobby.

Also, why do people insist on going to areas where there's a good chance they'll end up as involuntary long-term guests?

Bondith: Stamp-collecting is so boring that not collecting stamps is my hobby.

Also, why do people insist on going to areas where there's a good chance they'll end up as involuntary long-term guests?

Because if I don't go to my girlfriend's family's place for at least one of Christmas or Thanksgiving, I'll catch hell.

SpookyEyes: My dad is an avid birdwatcher. He takes kick-ass trips every summer to see the whatever-the-hell it is he wants to see that year. He camps, bikes, and hikes in beautiful places.

/such a dull, dull hobby

You know you don't have to be looking for birds to go to those places, right? I mean, if you like birds, go for it. But you don't need the bird watching as an excuse.

I May Be Crazy But...: I'm joking, of course. Where is that picture from? I'm thinking maybe Southern Utah?

But of course. That's Navajo Mountain in the background. Last time in that area we watched a pair of California Condors soaring above the San Juan - ranging up from the Vermillion Cliffs. And, believe it or not, such deserts are full of hummingbirds. The canyons are full of orioles, buntings, tanagers, etcetera. It is usually nice and quiet so you can find them just by listening. Not necessarily the primary reason to go, but the bird life is just one among many bonuses on such a trip. Like Chuckwallas.

canyoneer: I May Be Crazy But...: I'm joking, of course. Where is that picture from? I'm thinking maybe Southern Utah?

But of course. That's Navajo Mountain in the background. Last time in that area we watched a pair of California Condors soaring above the San Juan - ranging up from the Vermillion Cliffs. And, believe it or not, such deserts are full of hummingbirds. The canyons are full of orioles, buntings, tanagers, etcetera. It is usually nice and quiet so you can find them just by listening. Not necessarily the primary reason to go, but the bird life is just one among many bonuses on such a trip. Like Chuckwallas.

If you've never been, you might take a trip to Big Bend National Park. There's desert, river, and high country all in one place, so there are a lot of birds there. As well as other wildlife, of course. I've seen a couple species of hummingbirds there. (I think they were different species, but I don't like carrying a camera so I don't have pictures to look them up and make sure)

I May Be Crazy But...: If you've never been, you might take a trip to Big Bend National Park. There's desert, river, and high country all in one place, so there are a lot of birds there. As well as other wildlife, of course. I've seen a couple species of hummingbirds there. (I think they were different species, but I don't like carrying a camera so I don't have pictures to look them up and make sure)

I was at Big Bend many years ago - I'm a big fan of the deserts. I need to go back, for sure. There and the Davis Mountains. After SE Utah, those are the darkest night skies I've ever experienced in the Lower 48 (speaking of the many bonuses on such trips). If you haven't been, Guadalupe Mountains NP is also magnificent, as is the whole range.

canyoneer: I was at Big Bend many years ago - I'm a big fan of the deserts. I need to go back, for sure. There and the Davis Mountains. After SE Utah, those are the darkest night skies I've ever experienced in the Lower 48 (speaking of the many bonuses on such trips). If you haven't been, Guadalupe Mountains NP is also magnificent, as is the whole range.

I recall being told that the reason for the McDonald Observatory being out in West Texas is exactly because it's one of the places in the states with the least ambient light. I know I've never seen as many stars as on a moonless night in Big Bend. And with a full moon, it's practically goddamn daylight! 'Course, if you have to stay up for hours because the night is too bright to sleep, there's less scenic places than the middle of a desert near a creek.

Unfortunately, I've never done more than a couple days at Guadalupe Mountains. Had a trip planned with some friends a couple years back, but it ended up being scrapped.

I May Be Crazy But...: I recall being told that the reason for the McDonald Observatory being out in West Texas is exactly because it's one of the places in the states with the least ambient light. I know I've never seen as many stars as on a moonless night in Big Bend. And with a full moon, it's practically goddamn daylight! 'Course, if you have to stay up for hours because the night is too bright to sleep, there's less scenic places than the middle of a desert near a creek. Unfortunately, I've never done more than a couple days at Guadalupe Mountains. Had a trip planned with some friends a couple years back, but it ended up being scrapped.

Life is short - plan another trip now and go. And then do another trip somewhere else. When all is said and done, your memories are your most important possessions, and time spent in nature makes the best memories. Sounds corny, but it's good for the soul.

suck a foot-long tit subby!

I like to travel the world and watch the paint from various cultures dry on their walls.

At least stamp collectors have something to show for their hobby.

Herbert Mental is very disappointed in this thread indeed