One of the most compelling reasons to take up bird watching doesn’t include birds at all. You see, no bird is an island. Every avian exists as part of a rich ecosystem teeming with all manner of flora and fauna. Keep your eyes open for birds and you’ll be amazed at what else you see.

Since Sara and I took up birding, we’ve also spotted, among other things, both White-tailed and Black-tailed Deer, Gray and Red Foxes, Coyotes, Black Bears, Porcupines, rabbits, jackrabbits, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, rats, muskrats, bats, and all kinds of cool reptiles, amphibians, and fish. We’ve also encountered a myriad of magnificent whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and other marine mammals. These are just our U.S. sightings; travels throughout the Americas have also added exotic critters like Agouti and Coatimundi as well as Howler and Spider Monkeys to our list! And don’t even get me started on the invertebrates…

Birding offers the perfect value proposition. Go to where the birds and you’ve got a good shot at seeing anything and everything else. What could be better?

California Ground Squirrel