Northern Cardinal. A high resolution version of this picture, along with several other bird pictures can be downloaded from our Pictures area.

Bird watching is not an activity void of a challenge. Once the beginning bird watchers learn the tricks associated with the hobby, many turn to compiling the “life list” as their next goal.

The list is simply a document of all the species a bird watcher has seen. For some bird watchers the activity of keeping field notes and snapping photographs can be more fun than the activity itself.

“I just enjoy photographing nature in general, but birds are a big part of it,” said Peg Urban of the Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society. “When I first got started back in 1996, I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing as far as recognizing the different species. I knew the common ones - the cardinals, blue jays and things like that, but after spending time with the more experienced birders I was amazed at the variety we have in Lake County. What kind of got me hooked on bird watching or birding was starting to keep a record or life list of the different species.”

A life list can be as detailed as a journal entry of distinguishable features of the bird and vocalizations made by the species to a simple one sentence explanation of the basic what, where and when. However a birder goes about the life list, it is important to document the basics when compiling the list.

By including the time, date and location of each new species, the life list can become not only a chronicle of all the species a bird watcher has seen, but an account of the bird watcher’s travels. More importantly, comparing life lists with other birders can mark how far or how much more time a bird watcher needs to put in to reach the same level of the next friendly competitor.

“It’s kind of exciting to see new ones or unusual ones that you would normally not see,” Urban said. “Bird counts for instance are like a challenge between different groups to see who can count or see the most species. It is almost like a hunt in a way for birders.”