I’m a fledgling birder. I was introduced to birding by a friend
in grad school who took me mist netting. She was training to be an
ornithologist so the experience was amazing, but seemed outside my
abilities. Several years later I met a more casual birder whose
enthusiasm encouraged me to reconsider. This past winter that friend
was telling me a story about painted buntings and the very next week
Philly had a surprise visitor. I felt like it was a sign so I
downloaded various apps, bought my first pair of bins, and went
bunting hunting. Unfortunately I wasn’t lucky enough to see him, but
since then I have been learning more about the birds around me. I look
forward to meeting more bird nerds through DVOC!