Birding Buddies Beth Goldberg and Don Torino.
Photo courtesy of Don Torino

by Don Torino

I often thought that there should be a website just for birders, something like E-harmony.com.  No, it wouldn't be to find a wife or husband, but another life partner and someone far more difficult to find.  It would be to help find a birding buddy.
 
As we all know too well, our birding partner could make the difference between a wonderful enjoyable trip that we will reminisce about when dozing off in the old rocking chair by the fire, or  it could be the one that awakens you in a cold sweat in the middle of night screaming: NO, PLEASE!  Well, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit, but we all know that our birding outings are much more enjoyable when we are out with someone whose company we enjoy.  Realizing that we all have different qualifications for what we would consider our ideal birding buddy, I thought I would ask some of my birding friends what they look for in a perfect partner.
 
I first went right to the source, Denise Farrell, Field Trip Chairperson for Bergen County Audubon.  Denise said, "The best birding partner understands the rules of the road.  It's two hands on the wheel, one eye on the road while the other eye scans for birds."
 
Good qualifications!  Maybe having a background in stunt driving would be something to look for in a partner.  Next, I went to my good friend Jim.  I was a little nervous asking him what he looked for in a birding buddy as I was worried that he might be looking to find someone to replace me.  Jim's requirements were, "A good birding buddy is either a good birder or a good spotter.  He knows when to be quiet, doesn't complain, goes with the flow, brings food, and doesn't pee much."
 
Again, great qualifications for any kind of partner!  I believe I failed on one of those requirements but I won't say which one....I am getting a little old.  Now there is one very important issue which both of my colleagues failed to bring up, most likely because it is something that is not mentioned in polite company, but my duty in the search for the perfect birding buddy compels me to bring this issue to the forefront.  It's one of the main causes of global warming....flatulence.  There, I said it!  I just watched Doctor Oz last night and he was emphatic that we have to perform this bodily function on average once an hour.  Now the question arises, what does the good birding buddy do when there is car ride to your birding spot that is over an hour?
 
Of course they should be discreet, so I thought they might just say something like "A flock of Horned Larks just went under the car, open the door quick!" or "Wasn't that a sign at that restaurant that said birders eat free?"  Understand this could be grounds for divorce between long time birding buddies, so just proceed with caution!
 
I have been birding with many people over the years, all different in many ways but all have helped me to better enjoy my bird outings.  The memories are not just about the birds we saw but about the people that we share the birds with.  I thank them all.
 
What's your idea of a great birding buddy?  Let me know and I will share them in a future blog.

Don Torino is the Education Chairperson for Bergen County Audubon Society.

Previous birding exclusives:

• Don's Jersey Birding: Birding the Blizzard
• Linda's for the Birds: What is that bird at my feeder? - Part 3
• Linda's For the Birds: Of Birds and Blizzards
• Don's Jersey Birding: That's why they call them bird feeders
• Linda's For the Birds: What is that bird at my feeder? - Part 2
• Don's Jersey Birding: A Birder’s Time of Year for Reflection
• WNJ Exclusive: What is that bird at my feeder?