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Many people think that to be a birder you have to have all the gear, the expensive scopes and\/or binoculars, the sort of camera equipment that can take a photo of a sparrow four miles away! and you know everything about every bird that has ever graced our UK shores or wherever you bird.<\/p>
The fact of the matter is you really don\u2019t!<\/p>
You see Me & Alan aren\u2019t experts\u2026we don\u2019t know all the birds & their calls & from time to time get things wrong-you wouldn't believe how many times a wood pigeon has caught us out with us thinking it's something a bit more exciting like a sparrowhawk or buzzard but do you know what we are absolutely fine with that...birding should be a relaxing enjoyable experience<\/p>
We set up the bearded birders as a way of not only showcasing the bird life and nature that can be found here in North East Lincolnshire where we live but by helping others and showing that they too can pick up a pair of binoculars and get out in to their local woodland or nature reserves to enjoy this hobby.<\/p>
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Being out in nature has had such a huge positive impact on my own mental health at a time when things weren\u2019t going that well for me (Gaz) so we thought we would just try and spread awareness of the benefits of being out in nature. When I was out with Alan birdwatching, it was a way of switching off from the world and days when I wasn't feeling that great.<\/p>
Those early days out became sort of what I now like to call nature therapy sessions; each time I would arrive home from being out birding I felt invigorated & felt more relaxed by everything that I had seen or heard!<\/p>
It was during these days Alan and myself came up with the idea of helping promote this!<\/p>
You see even if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re looking at or able to ID what you're hearing and it doesn\u2019t matter so long as you can appreciate and take pure enjoyment from it\u2026does it really matter what binoculars you have? Absolutely not!<\/p>
Sure, better optics will bring a clearer view but if you haven\u2019t got pure enthusiasm and joy for the subject matter then those expensive binoculars are just an overpriced necklace!<\/p>
We at thebeardedbirders want everyone to enjoy themselves when out birdwatching!, birding isn\u2019t & never should be an exclusive hobby! it is now and always should be available to everyone no matter what!<\/p>
Everyone has the right to be their own birder & learn at their own pace!<\/p>
We all start somewhere & we should be happy to help others & be happy to be helped by others\u2026so let\u2019s make Birder a community of new or old birders that encourages each other, helps each other grow and engage with one another to break down the stereotype\u2019s & snobbery that can often found in the more elite birders, after all \"Shared nature is the best nature\u201d<\/p>
Gaz & Alan<\/p>