The rise of the hipster bird-watcher

The Telegraph ^ | 20 March 2017 | Joe Shute

[DUMBGRUNT]

By means of example, in 2013 a group of twitchers made it all the way to the Isle of Harris in pursuit of a needle-tailed swift that had only previously been recorded eight times in Britain in 170 years. Sadly, soon after they arrived they watched it fly straight into a wind turbine.

One can only anticipate that Hackney Marshes will soon be flooded with sockless young twitchers wearing trousers so high they barely tickle their ankles, more likely to post an Instagram snap of a mistle thrush than a Friday night “squad” selfie.

[DUMBGRUNT]

From the site comments: Oddly enough, MY new hobby, as a 40-something year old, is punching millennials/hipsters in the throat. You should write a mundane article about REAL men throat-punching hipsters. Far more amusing than birders.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Well, I guess hipsters have to do something with all the time that they have on their hands. Its not like they’re working and supporting themselves.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Sadly, soon after they arrived they SCARED THE FOWL AND CAUSED IT TO fly straight into a wind turbine.

Had to fix it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hipster likes his “tight fitten jeans,” apparently...
(Apologies to C&W fans on this board.)

[Chipper]

I bird to get away from people, especially hipsters. Please let this fad stay overseas.

[Rebelbase]

For the record, in your hobby that would be called the Swollen Throated Hipster.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

LOL!

[Daffynition]

The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, author Mark Obmascik.

Cute book. [I believe they made it into a movie]; If you choose to deride birdwatchers, go right ahead. Knock yourself out.

*Life Lists* are fun to keep. Educational. Go ahead and laugh.

Go out and stay out. What could be better than being outdoors amongst the beauty of God's Creations.

I lived for 10 years on an island ...for two of those summers I tried to ID a Seaside Sparrow. Elusive little bird. Finally made a good ID of one. Mission accomplished.

I dislike to see any critter die b/c of man's stupidity [wind turbines]. Vermont & Maine have *bought* into wind turbines; gorgeous mountain ridgelines in the Whites and Greens ruined by their presence; and the structures are not producing as predicted.

[Daffynition]

Too late.

[Organic Panic]

This is better than Pokieman Go.

[Chipper]

Great shot. Mine is a barely Id’able image as it flew away.

[Daffynition]

They seem to be *shy* birds .... flitting in the reeds...they don’t seem to stop for more than a nanosecond.

Happy birding FRiend. :)

[MoochPooch]

Last summer I attended a bird-watching class with a bunch of yuppies. I was afraid of scaring away the birds if I screamed out “Yay Trump!”

[Daffynition]

Wish you were here:

We went down to the Connecticut River to let the dogs play; old dog immediately went swimming...BRRRRRRRRRRR!

Wind was about 40 knots. About 7 Eagles, all adults were flying about.

2 adults started at each other; they were fighting; maybe for territory? Over a female? I didn't see any food involved.

One of the birds would turn upside and attack the other from below with its talons outstretched.

It was an amazing battle; We were in awe that they could negotiate the almost whole gale headwinds, the one flying upside down. Amazing.

Quite a display. Good stuff.