Descriptive Terms for Birders
I thought it would be fun to see what adjectives are most frequently associated with birders on the Internet. If the Google search engine is to be believed, the typical birder is experienced (about 21,200 hits), serious (13,600), and focused on the birds of his or her backyard (24,400). Birders are also described as crazy (933), beginner(s) (925), keen (821), professional (586), active (527), average (325), dedicated (302), renowned (267), excellent (262), seasoned (226), accomplished (202), obsessed (87), intrepid (76), obsessive (48), superb (42), super (41), outstanding (36), successful (20), ambitious (18), stealthy (17), compulsive (13), elite (12), helpful (11), and quiet (11).
On the other hand, birders are rarely if ever described as affluent (rather surprising, considering some of the statistics that I’ve seen), arrogant, chic, crafty, creative, devious, elitist, envious, erudite, esteemed, fun-loving, furtive, gentle, glamorous, handsome (the lone exception apparently being the title character in the Jonathan Wilder Mysteries), ingenious, intelligent, jealous, lonely, nasty, peevish, peripatetic, perplexed, reclusive, rich (see comments under affluent), rude, savvy, secretive, sexy, shy, smart, sneaky, superlative, surreptitious, or wily.
Can you suggest other adjectives that have been used to describe birders?
On the other hand, birders are rarely if ever described as affluent (rather surprising, considering some of the statistics that I’ve seen), arrogant, chic, crafty, creative, devious, elitist, envious, erudite, esteemed, fun-loving, furtive, gentle, glamorous, handsome (the lone exception apparently being the title character in the Jonathan Wilder Mysteries), ingenious, intelligent, jealous, lonely, nasty, peevish, peripatetic, perplexed, reclusive, rich (see comments under affluent), rude, savvy, secretive, sexy, shy, smart, sneaky, superlative, surreptitious, or wily.
Can you suggest other adjectives that have been used to describe birders?
posted by John L. Trapp at
5/18/2006 01:18:00 PM
3 Comments:
I don't believe I saw anything in the nerdy/geeky suite on your list.
I love this and the other ideas you've been exploring recently. How about submitting something to I and the Bird?
Mike:
Thanks for the kind comments. You would think that geeky and nerdy would rank right up there as descriptive terms for birders (you're probably too young to remember the nerdy bird-watching lady on the Beverly Hillbillies), but they don't. I guess birders just don't see themselves as geeky or nerdy!
Juliabohemian:
How 'bout "Momma birder?" Disadvantaged, frustrated, and exasperated are three ofther adjectives that come to mind. Patient and tolerant might also apply. But regardless, I admire your perseverance in pursuing birding under somewhat trying circumstances.
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