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A Little Better is a column about showing up for yourself and your people.
Hunter French / SELF
The cover of the book features a black-and-white photo of a bird being fed with a spoon.
/ And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
/ And have you changed your life?
Rachel Miller
Loving birds so much I reevaluate my life?
Could never be me.
We settled on 10, which felt modest but still exciting.
Rachel Miller
Now, one year and 60 (!!)
Thats in large part because its so much easier to encounter cool birds than you might realize.
Prior to taking up this hobby, I treated birds like NPCs.
Rachel Miller
But birding is a way of leaning into the distractions and making them the main event.
Birding is an accessible way to invoke awe, an emotion that can improve your mental and physical health.
Awe also just…feels great!
Rachel Miller
I pictured myself draped in Eileen Fisher and saying things like, The loon just had ducklings.
This was silly of me.
Birding is for everyone who is interested in birds.
Its also not a hobby thats out of reach to city dwellers.
Venturing a little further, Ive encountereddouble-crested cormorantsandbrantsat WNYC Transmitter Park.
I really appreciate that birding is a hobby that travels well.
You definitely dont have to wait until spring to get startedweird duck seasonis happening as we speak!
That said, here are the things I found helpful in my first year of birding.
Thisis my go-to resource for identifying birds, in large part because its always on me.
Your mileage may vary, of course!
The American Bird Association has published anethical guidethats a quick but worthwhile read.
Ultimately, birdinglike most hobbiesis what you make of it.
