Top 10 Reasons Birding is the Perfect Travel Hobby

Calling all travelers! Looking for a fun and enriching way to experience the world around you? Look no further than birding! In this Ten Degrees Warmer video, we explore the top 10 reasons why birding is the perfect hobby for any traveler. From the thrill of the hunt to the stunning diversity of our planet's feathered friends, birding offers a unique way to connect with nature and local environments, no matter where your travels take you.
Get ready to transform the world around you! Birds are truly everywhere - parks, beaches, deserts, bustling cities, even airports! You will prove true the adage you find what you are looking for, because once you start looking for birds, you'll be amazed to notice how often they are all around you and you just never noticed them before. With over 11,000 incredible species to discover, birding is a global treasure hunt waiting to be explored. Join us as we unveil the captivating world of birds and show you why birding might just be your new favorite travel companion!.
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For more info on the health benefits of time spent outside in nature, check out this article (and follow the links to specific studies): mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental...
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► ABOUT US
This channel is for travelers. We are David and Robb, and have been traveling together for 30 years. We’ve been to over 85 countries and territories (so far) on trips that have ranged from a couple of weeks to a couple of years. We are currently taking a four year sabbatical and offer you an unconventional example of what is possible with your own long term travels.
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► Timecodes
00:00 - Intro
00:34 - Reason #1
01:42 - Reason #2
02:23 - Reason #3
03:45 - Reason #4
04:44 - Reason #5
07:07 - Reason #6
08:52 - Reason #7
09:29 - Reason #8
11:26 - Reason #9
13:39 - Reason #10
14:47 - Bonus Reason #11

[@JoseeGill]

I loved this video, I have been birding since 40 years, but I never used a birding site, so I will look into that. What I really like to do when I see interested birds is to draw them and or paint them. I will look into an ebirding site in Wisconsin :). Dave, I am about to receive your food- April 30th- can't wait, I ordered two, one for my grandson and one for us! Have a great week!

[@tendegreeswarmer]

We like tracking our birds on eBird, not only to keep track for us but also because it is important data for conservation scientists to see where birds are going and in what numbers over time. So it is a win win! And thanks for ordering David's book! We couldn't get a copy delivered to us in Europe but he'll finally get his own copy delivered in early June! 😀

[@kathihudson2581]

Great video! We are more casual bird observers but I could see us really getting into this hobby eventually. Right now we're really into snorkeling, which actually is similar except fish under the sea instead of birds in the sky.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

Snorkeling is similar, we've always enjoyed that as well. But as far as I know there is no fish-identification and observation tracking websites! lol

[@RogerZoul]

My birder buddy had a long flight in <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="75">1:15</a> minutes and an hour drive to the airport. He still had time to "do a little birding." His words, not mine.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

haha, that sounds like us! 😂

[@ExploreTayo]

I owned an Audubon Field Guide as a kid and was always looking for birds around Virginia and the US East Coast, but I stopped as the years went by. Thanks to you two in Saigon, I'm getting back into the hobby.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

We did some great birding in Saigon! Thinking about going back maybe in 2025 to see more of the country (and the birds). Have you seen anything good in South America?

[@ExploreTayo]

@@tendegreeswarmer yes! Crested Caracara, Peregrine Falcon, Orange Oriole, Osprey, Albatross, several hummingbirds, terns, finches

[@ExploreTayo]

@@tendegreeswarmer and many Magellanic Penguins!

[@tendegreeswarmer]

@@ExploreTayo In Panama we would see the Caracaras sitting on the backs of the Capybaras. It was so cute I'm now obsessed with both wherever we see them. lol

[@ExploreTayo]

@@tendegreeswarmer that sounds so cute! We haven't seen any capybara yet, but we did see some coati in Iguazú.

[@livingwithtri]

Great video! What apps do you use to identify and keep track of all the birds you see? I'm in Penang now and I'm tempted to go to KL to see more birds. Any recommendations for places to bird in Malaysia?

[@tendegreeswarmer]

Check out the Merlin app to help identify bird sounds, it isn't perfect but it can give you some great ideas of what to be looking for. We (especially David) do a lot of research ahead of time to give us an idea of what we could expect to see, and then we track everything on eBird. We weren't birders yet when we went to Penang, but I would assume there would be some great birds there too! But in KL I would check out the Botanical Gardens and the park that is next to the KL Tower. Really any big park is going to have some fun things. But have you heard of Fraser Hill? It is up in the Highlands and is supposed to be amazing. We haven't gone yet but we definitely want to go the next time we are in Malaysia.

[@livingwithtri]

@@tendegreeswarmer Thanks for the recommendations! I'll look up Fraser Hill - cheers!!

[@DunRovinRanch-1969]

Y’all do house sitting? I had to come back to this when you said competitive and data. What app do you use and how to I sign up for the big year?

[@tendegreeswarmer]

We haven't done a housesit in a while, but yes we've had some great experiences with it. Our favorite app is called Merlin, it is a sound app that can recognize some (definitely not all) bird calls in the field. It isn't always accurate but it can definitely point you in the right direction so you know what to look for. Then when we get home we input all our finds into eBird, which tracks everything and gives you lots and lots of stats. We love it. The Big Year isn't an official thing - well maybe it is if you are really competing at the top levels, but not for us. Having all our stats on eBird we knew we were going to have a good year so just pushed ourselves to have as good a year as possible. It was a lot of fun, but it was just for ourselves.

[@kathihudson2581]

I would love to know what app(s) you think are best for identification. Also any particular great place in KL to sit and look for birds--we'll be staying a month soon.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

We use eBird for identification and tracking, and the Merlin App for identifying birds by sound. Merlin isn't perfect so don't trust everything it tells you, but it is a good idea of what to be looking for. Any park in KL can be great for birding, we went to a lot of them. But the Botanical Gardens is great because it is big with a few different habitats. Also there is a Bird Zoo on site, we never went, but birds clearly escape from it on the regular because we saw several birds in that park that shouldn't have been there. lol

[@TasteLifeWithUs]

Thanks!

[@shelleystephen8887]

Id be interested in what apps you use for identification and recording your sightings. Thanks

[@tendegreeswarmer]

We mainly use eBird for identification and tracking, and Merlin for identification by sound (careful, it can eat up your phone's battery fast!). Merlin isn't perfect so don't trust it implicitly, but it will let you know what to look for. And it is generally reliable with more common birds.

[@shelleystephen8887]

@@tendegreeswarmer thankyou

[@RogerZoul]

That was a Wood duck, not a Mandarin duck. I just had to say something. :)

[@tendegreeswarmer]

D'oh!!!! You are correct of course. I was shuffling footage and got that one mixed up. Thanks for catching it!