Category Archives: Love_of_birding

What Sparked My Interest in Birding – Part 7

Here are more stories from the wonderful thread from birders on MASSBIRD: Jean’s sister got her started in birding: My spark wasn’t a bird but a person-my sister who still lives in Rochester, NY.  She had begun birdwatching and would … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

What Sparked Their Interest in Birding – Part 6

Here is the next batch of stories prompted by Gerry Cooperman’s post on MASSBIRD list serve: David’s interest was kick-started by a rare gull in Newburyport: Today, I was birding with Dennis, my twin brother, and Fay Vale at Plum Island. Fay … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What Sparked Their Interest in Birding – Part 5

Here are more of the stories prompted by Gerry Cooperman’s post on Mass Birds: Carolyn had several sparks — here is an early one: I was watching the goldfinches, chickadees, etc. with my dad’s ancient binoculars and saw what turned … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

What Sparked Their Interest in Birding – Part 4

Dana D was “oozed” into birding by a rustic island camp: Now admittedly it is a long time ago now but I was blessed with having grandparents that read an ad in the mid 1920’s of a cabin for rent … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

What Sparked Their Interest in Birding – Part 3

As we read the stories from birders, many were sparked by a mentor — an older friend or a parent.  Others were converted by the flash of a Blackburnian Warbler or Northern Cardinal.  Still others were young nature lovers who … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

What Sparked My Interest in Birding

It wasn’t until I was turning 70 that I got seriously hooked on birding.  I had dabbled in it and enjoyed watching birds in our woods but never kept lists or owned any decent binoculars until late 2009 when I … Continue reading

Posted in Life list, Love_of_birding, Texas birding | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Here is What Sparked Their Interest in Birding — Part 2

Here are the next group of stories from the Massachusetts birding community (extended) about what was the spark that made them birders. Catherine (NH) was hooked by a booming Bittern: I was fortunate in that my Dad has been a … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Here is What Sparked Their Interest in Birding — Part 1

When Gerry Cooperman put his “What Sparked Your Interest?  on the MASSBirds listserve, I asked him for permission to post it here.  I figured he’d get a half-dozen responses and perhaps I’d excerpt one or two and move on.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Love_of_birding, MA Birding | Tagged , , | 8 Comments