| One of the thrills of bird watching is the | | | | Aside from written descriptions, the internet |
| discovery of a species you have never seen | | | | provides a wealth of photographic information |
| before. In the past, a bird watcher often had | | | | to bird watchers. Photographs that would add |
| to wait for a long time to get help in | | | | up to literally mountains of books could |
| identifying a bird that he or she may not | | | | quickly be searched, organized, and selected |
| have recognized. Programs, like the one at | | | | for viewing online. The convenience is |
| Cornell University ( allowed those who bird | | | | immeasurable. The ability to get information |
| watch to submit photographs and descriptions | | | | quickly and accurately makes the research |
| of things that they had seen. The experts and | | | | process an enjoyable one for most bird |
| researchers at the university would then help | | | | watchers. |
| them identify the bird. The internet however, | | | | |
| has eliminated the hassle of waiting for the | | | | One of the features that bird watchers who |
| mail. This information is available | | | | are internet savvy might find of particular |
| instantaneously online. | | | | interest is the communities that exist on the |
| | | | bulletin boards of websites catering to bird |
| The ability to come home from a day in the | | | | watching. These forums allow users to start, |
| fields of Belize watching birds, or even | | | | and participate in, conversations concerning |
| after bird watching in Costa Rica, and to sit | | | | a wide variety of topics that relate to |
| down in front of a computer has given birth | | | | birding. Some conversations, called threads, |
| to a completely new realm of resources. Bird | | | | are global in their scope and may include |
| watchers can visit sites such as and to | | | | broad topics like equipment, which are not |
| access information about what they have seen | | | | geographically specific. Other threads may be |
| through their binoculars while bird watching | | | | very geographically specific and give local |
| that day. There are several benefits to | | | | bird watchers a place to share individual |
| websites like these and the photographic | | | | information about sightings and numbers in |
| resources available on the web. | | | | special locations that probably are not of |
| | | | interest to someone outside of that region. |