The question of when bird watching or birdwatching was officially considered a hobby, pastime, or sport is a difficult one to answer. No one really knows the actual date birding was defined, but many believe it was around 1968. This isn’t just a lucky guess; it is believed to have become a royal hobby in 1968 due to the first known publication on bird watching being produced that year. This publication was called The Bird Watcher’s Digest and could be described more as a newsletter than anything else. There was only about 5 pages of literature, but it was the first official document of a birding nature. This new literature was founded by the “American Association of Birders” or the ABA, as they considered themselves. With this newly proclaimed partnership, official US interest in birding quickly arose.
Once the American Association of Birders was established, membership status was also established. You can purchase a one year membership for the nominal fee of $3.00. So what did this newfound literature encompass for the sport of birding? For the first time in publishing, there was a post that not only provided documentation on the birds, but also listed the rules of this new sport. In 1969 the title changed from The Bird Watcher’s Digest to simply Birding, which became the popular term for bird watching, and is still in print today. The magazine prints and distributes its issues every two months to its readers.
As more numbers were released, official birding guidelines were defined. Also in 1969 it was proposed that the ABA which originally stood for the American Association of Birders be changed to the American Birding Association. By the end of that year there were already 128 members participating in the ABA, as well as newly appointed officials in the organization. Between the ABA and the publication Birding, birding was becoming a popular sport. With the growing popularity it would also bring a change in both the publication and the organization.
In the short period of three years, the publication was ready to take on a more professional appearance in the world of birding. Birding became more of a journal-like publication in 1971 and no longer took on the appearance of the mere newsletter from which it originated. The new publication gave readers a variety of articles to read. There was a total expansion of pieces delving into the true art of birding, no longer just species lists and opinion pieces, but actual reports that brought a new kind of excitement.
The July/August issue of Birding in 1973 caused quite a stir in the birding community. It was the first issue to have images printed in the publication. It was also the first issue to report on the first convention held by the ABA in Kenmare, North Dakota. The July/August print edition helps define many of the new aspects of the ABA, such as its checklist report, newly elected ABA leaders, and recently ratified ABA laws. This new issue was popular for many reasons and was a wealth of information for the rapidly growing birding community. ABA membership had grown from its original 128 members in 1969 to 1,872 in 1974, a difference of 1,744 in just five years.
The 1970s brought some obvious changes for both Birding and the ABA. In 1976, for the first time since the first 5-page publication in 1968, Birding printed a 400-page publication; a big difference from its meager beginnings. Additionally, the ABA recognized its second president, Arnold Small. In 1977 the cover of Birding began to take on a different look, printing beautiful covers that amazed many bird lovers. There was also a bit of disturbance in the birding community between the East Coast and the West Coast. It seems that many were upset with California birding styles that were constantly praised.
From its inception in 1968 to 1988 Birding had lagged behind in its publication because it was more difficult to understand. It was up to publisher Paul Lehman to return the magazine to its origins and back to normal. He focused on making the magazine easier for readers to understand and outlined a number of focal points for expansion. In 1989, Lehman fulfilled his commitment and published a very different-looking magazine that boasted a completely new design. Lehman helped make the magazine the true form of communication for the birding community again.
In 1992, the ABA focused on the demographics of its members. They soon realized that most of their members were over 40 years old, as a whole, they were getting older. Alarmed by the statistics, they focused on winning over a younger demographic by offering reduced membership and youth camps. They realized that without some type of change, the sport of bird watching could begin to decline. Although membership was up to 10,200 active members, the concern of gaining young birders remained an issue for the ABA community.
Being 2007, almost four decades have passed since the first publication of The Bird Watcher’s Digest, now known as Birding. The hopes of the ABA have been recognized and the art of birding is growing rapidly in North America and Canada. As many have noted, with growth comes change. New birders do not necessarily hold to the same ideals as previous generations of birders. The new generation is also more focused on emerging technology that many veterans might ignore. Birding magazine is also feeling the impact of the new generation due to its updated staff. Change is in the air both in the ABA community and in Birding publications, but change is not always a bad thing, with change comes a new opportunity for all those in the birding community.