First

Seeing as this is my first post on my first blog, I guess I'll start with a little background.  I grew up, and still live in upstate New York, raised by an amazing and versatile family.  Because of this, I have enjoyed a variety of wonderful experiences and therefore, now have a wide range of interests.  My new-found interest in birding was seeded long ago, by my grandparents, who were avid birdwatchers.  Not only would they identify every bird we happened to see, but I would bet that I was one of very few children who played "the birding game" every week (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12509/the-birding-game-with-roger-tory-peterson) (yes, its a real thing).
        So naturally, as I got older, I excelled in the ornithological sections of my science classes in both high school and college.  My interest was reawakened recently on a trip to our family beach house in Cape May Point, NJ.  I drove down with Pa (my grandfather) and we had a pretty entertaining 6-hour car ride.  On each of the three days we spent down there Pa, Aunt Sue (my co-blogger), and myself went out bird watching.  I was quickly impressed by their vast combined knowledge that I always knew was there, but had until now not fully appreciated.
        It also finally occurred to me that (as cliche as it sounds) birding is about much more than birds.  Not only did I have an amazing time with my family, but got to see my grandfather talking to people he knows from years of seeing them at the popular birding spots.  Birding is also a great hobby for anyone who loves to learn, be outdoors, and challenge themselves, and since I fall into all of those categories, I figured I might as well give it a shot.