Competition takes over

THERE is an obvious solution to Matt Phelps’s dissatisfaction with social media – either do not use it at all, or be much more selective about how you use it. I have been birding for more than 60 years so qualify for Matt’s classification of ‘older birder’. I do not use X, do not own a smartphone and have never had a pager. I have, however, been an active member of the BTO for 53 years, taught ‘birdwatching for beginners’ adult-education classes and been warden of two bird observatories. These days my birding is lower key, confined to within a 20-km radius of home. My only incursion into social media is a regular perusal of my county society Facebook page as I edit the bimonthly newsletter and am always on the lookout for decent pictures or notes.

Along with other ‘older birders’ I recall how in the early days any admission of being a birder was met with ridicule or suspicion; egg collectors were sadly still commonplace and information was carefully disseminated. The real difference as I see it is that in the early years ‘birdwatching’ was an intellectual pursuit, whereas today it is clearly a competitive one. Many more mature birders, often with long years of experience, feel marginalised by the modern trends. Matt’s comments seem set to reinforce that regrettable situation.

It was also interesting to read Mike Alibone’s article on the changes in the equipment used by birders over the years and I was pleased to see that both my early binoculars and telescope were featured. How things have changed. I also noted that there was no comment on the single most indispensable item of equipment for any birder or naturalist in the early days … a notebook and pencil! I am clearly damned with the old fossils as I still use a notebook and sketchbook in the field, making me an endangered species. Norman McCanch