Ornithology has become extremely popular over the last few years. This may sound like a way of bird watchers trying to make their pastime seem more glamorous or even perhaps draw a few more people to their cause. However, it is actually very much the opposite and traditional bird watchers are very much wary of the influx of new blood.
It is not so much the fact that people now suddenly want to get their binoculars out and view birds that is the problem, and in fact the majority would welcome a new ardent following for the pastime. Instead, it is the fact that the influx has put the pursuit into disrepute.
That may sound somewhat hyperbolic, but there have even been recent cases of violent clashes between bird watchers as people desperately try to get the very best spots. This alone may be bad enough, but on top of this there have been cases of bird watchers faking photos to make their ability seem greater and their experience seem more exotic, whilst others have been criticised for harassing birds.
As a result, those wishing to take their bird watching binoculars out to the best spots are being respectfully asked to follow a code of etiquette published recently and endorsed by the RSPB. The reason those taking part in such activities need bird watching binoculars is that getting too close to the birds is likely to scare them away, ruining the experience for other keen ornithologists and potentially being detrimental to wildlife in general.
So if you want to start up bird watching, there is very little stopping you getting out your binoculars and indulging in a pastime that is positively soaring in popularity. Just make sure you know the right etiquette before you head out so as not to be a nuisance to the animals themselves or others wanting to see as many interesting birds as they can.