Nashville Outdoors

Birdwatching: the observation & study of birds with theeye or through a visual device like binoculars.
Tennessee has been blessed with over 300 bird species and offers some excellent birdwatching opportunities. Most "birders" engage in  this activity/sport for recreational pleasure. To sit, watch & study bird behavior is very relaxing & educational. Technology has become a big part of bird studies, as birdwatchers with digital cameras participate in nationwide studies. The sport grows at an amazing rate and is quite rewarding. Especially when you start to recognize the birds by sound, before you ever see them. Become a Tennessee Birdwatcher, it is a fun activity for the whole family and you'll live a longer, less stressful life!

This past February was the The Great Backyard Bird Count, a annual event where citizens across the country record the birds they've seen. Tennesseans turned in hundreds of reports that recorded 324,320 birds of 129 different species. The top counts went to the European Starling with 62,805 reported, the Ring-billed Gull with 37,637 reported and the Common Grackle with 22,509 reported. You can see the full detailed report here. The Great Backyard Bird Count happens again on February 18 - 21 in 2011. Plan on participating so you and your family can help in the studies of bird behavior and migration.

Birdwatchers are a gift to nature and conservation! With an unique connection to the wild world, birders are always observant to the environment. By participating in national studies & bird counts, birders help scientists study and record nesting, breeding & migratory habits. Birdwatchers also help by reporting enviro damage, reducing, re-using & recycling natural resources. By adopting favorite birdwatching areas, birders clean & protect important habitats that insure the future of our fine feathered friends.