| No bird watcher is complete without his or her bird | | | | When keeping your journal and lists, you are going to |
| watching journals. When you go bird watching, you | | | | have sightings of species you've seen previously. Most |
| need to keep your life list. | | | | bird watchers will add such sightings to their journals, |
| The Life List | | | | but not their life lists. The reason for this is there may |
| If you are or become an avid bird watching enthusiast, | | | | be peculiar or significant factors in the sighting. Perhaps |
| you're going to need to keep records. The reason for | | | | the bird is not typically found in the area in question or |
| this is you want to keep a running list of the various | | | | perhaps it is exhibiting some unique characteristic. |
| bird species you've seen. Since there are a zillion | | | | New Sightings |
| species, the list can become quite long. Frankly, it | | | | When it comes to bird watching, there is no greater |
| becomes a life long project that is very enjoyable. | | | | joy then sighting a bird you have never seen before. |
| Trust me, you'll start planning vacations and trips | | | | Often called "life birds", the sighting can be added to |
| around it. A business trip will soon evolve into a chance | | | | your life list and is a feather in your cap. When you |
| to see new species. | | | | first start watching birds, you'll obviously have a lot of |
| Part and parcel to your bird watching life list is your | | | | new sighting. As time passes, however, they will |
| journal. Some bird watchers combine these two while | | | | become less frequent and you will come to enjoy and |
| others keep them separate. The bird watching journal | | | | value them even more. |
| is used to fill out your sightings. Information kept in the | | | | Bird watching is an addictive hobby. Part of the thrill is |
| journal includes things like where you were, whom you | | | | watching your life list grow and reading through your |
| were with, the weather conditions, the lighting, time of | | | | journal of sightings. |
| day and your overall impressions from the sighting. | | | | |