TIL: Bird calls turned my neighborhood strolls into a game
I always just heard background chirping outside. Then I saw a post here about learning bird songs. I started using a simple app to match sounds. For example, the blue jay has a loud 'jay jay' cry. Now I guess the birds before I look up. It adds a fun layer to my daily walk. Kind of makes me listen more to little things.
I always figured bird watching was for retired folks with binoculars... never gave the sounds much thought. Tried one of those apps on a lark last month and it totally flipped that idea. Hearing a robin's song and actually knowing it's a robin makes the whole yard feel different. It sort of forces you to slow down and pay attention... walks feel less like a chore now.