It is with a degree of envy that I listen to and read the exploits of those Freemasons who belong to an Association that supports, encourages and shares in the enjoyment of the hobby in which they all have a common interest. With this in mind, I am wondering if there would be enough interest among the Brethren of the Province to form a new Association, that of Ornithology.
My interest in our feathered friends began many years ago, I distinctly remember as a child putting bread out on the lawn and then watching from my bedroom window to see which birds would turn up to feast on the dry white sliced carefully torn and scattered for them. My first view from a pair of binoculars was notable, they belonged to my uncle and were roughly the size of a family car and I was unable to focus on anything through them, I later learnt that they were ships binoculars so not ideal for bird watching.
As the years have progressed my interest has continued and grown. I now have all the requisite equipment needed to spot and observe birds along with the clothing that allows me to blend in to the surroundings, although my wife insists there is no need to wear it in the lounge whilst watching the birds on our garden feeders.
I have spent many happy hours searching for and invariably not finding the species I set out to find but this does not detract from the enjoyment of spending time outdoors and conversing with nature. The array of wildlife discovered whilst sitting patiently in a hide or quietly ambling through a wood adds to the enjoyment. I have visited many bird reserves and have travelled to the Isle of Mull where much to my delight I have watched White Tailed Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles in their natural environment.
Often I am referred to as a “twitcher” when I declare my hobby is bird watching, I don’t think I am. I am not one of the bird fanatics who have messages and texts sent to their mobile phones and then jump in the car and drive hundreds of miles hoping to glimpse the elusive bird. That is my interpretation of a “twicher”, I may be wrong in that interpretation and I apologise to those twitchers amongst you who do not fit that description. My enjoyment comes from a day or part of a day spent in a local wood or country park looking at what is there, listening for the song of a particular bird and then trying to locate it from its song. Days and weekends have been spent on the North Norfolk coast at the fantastic reserves along the coast and the area is rich in bird life.
My plan would be to visit local areas as a group, enjoy each other’s company, and if and when there is sufficient interest, organise a trip to the further afield reserves around the country. I would be particularly keen to include wives and children in the group, the next generation of bird watchers and nature conservationists will be fired from enthusiasm, sparked from an early introduction to and enjoyment of this wonderful hobby.
Should you or any member of your family or friends be interested in forming this hobby group, please contact me in the first instance by emailing me at [email protected] and we shall see what hatches!
Clive Church, Master of Temple Lodge 5196. (webmaster – at the time of writing)