Project description – birdwatching

My project focused on the social impact of birdwatching.  Specific issues I talked about included why people seem especially drawn to birds (as opposed to other animals), why most serious birdwatchers are men, the economic importance of bird-related travel or “avitourism,” and the biophilia hypothesis.  I also talked briefly about the history of birdwatching as a recreational activity.

 And, I passed around my binoculars, field guide, and field notebook, which people seemed to enjoy. 

 ~Rebecca