I attended local spring bird walks with the Tiadaghton Audubon Society and was quickly sucked in by the excitement of spotting a ‘lifer’. I soon realized how little I knew about birds. Initially, I was thrilled simply by the bright colors of birds in their breeding plumage, one spring spotting an indigo bunting and a yellow warbler in the same tree near my home.

I had no understanding then of the many layers of identifying birds, from their body shape and behavior to their food preference and choice of habitat, to their location in the treetops or on the ground, their geographical location, their sounds and the season of the year.

Feather color was just the tip of the iceberg and would often only be reliable during breeding season and with proper lighting.

At first, I believed birding was a planned and scheduled activity, only occurring out in the woods. It did not take me long to realize that birding was a round-the-clock, year-round activity that was accessible without a moment’s notice, no special skills or equipment required. I found myself staring out of office windows during work hours for a glimpse of any nearby birds and pointing out turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks along the highway.

PHOTO PROVIDED A black-capped chickadee is shown perched on a branch in this photo by Lisa Doud.

Trips to a grocery store or Lowe’s meant opportunities to watch gull species circling the parking lots. I became particularly fond of a pair of fish crows that were ever-present in the Taco Bell drive through.

I started to notice that birds held so many traits beyond the color of their feathers. Some species like the black-capped chickadee love to be the center of attention, darting into sight and even landing on my head and a fellow birder’s hat during a spring walk. When spotting a pied-billed grebe in local marshlands, I was intrigued by its ability to sink and disappear like a submarine.

Some species remained secretive and elusive, being identified only by sound. I began to understand that each bird has a personality, its own likes and dislikes. It did not matter where I was or what I was doing, birds were always around, constantly challenging me to identify them.

The hardest part of becoming a birder was realizing that there is no answer key. No one knows every bird, and birders standing side by side at times come to different conclusions on what their eyes saw.

As I explored the outdoors in search of any bird I could find, I realized that one of the many benefits of birding is the ease at which you can connect with people. I have met birders near home and around the world simply by pulling over on the side of the road with a pair of binoculars in hand. In a parking lot in Oregon, birders and non-birders alike stopped to join me in watching acorn woodpeckers happily pecking away at the top of a telephone pole.

PHOTO PROVIDED A steller’s jay is shown in this photo by Doug Kliewer that won an Audubon Photography Award in 2016.

Each time I step into nature, I am struck by the indescribable peace that comes from stepping away from screens, particularly when walking into the woods. In my experience, there is no place more magical than the redwood forests of California. The serenity is unmatched anywhere I’ve visited in the world, and the woods there and everywhere are bursting with opportunities to learn about plants, mushrooms, mosses, insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

While climbing decomposing redwood stumps and again on the steps to my hotel room, there were many opportunities to view bright yellow banana slugs up close. I was stunned by the striking black and blue colors of Steller’s Jays in Oregon, by the high-pitched whistles of black guillemots off the coast of Maine, and by the vibrant blues of the Indian Roller in Northern India.

I am not sure at what point I went from being a bird watcher to becoming a birder, but it’s a lifelong title that I proudly carry.

Kiley Birgensmith is a CPA and graduate of Mansfield University as part of the Class of 2015. She is an avid birder, volunteer, explorer and accountant, and currently serves as vice president of the Tiadaghton Audubon Society.