It’s never the wrong time to buy a gift for the birder in your life. Do you have a birder in your life? A traveler? A traveler who likes to birdwatch? Look no further. A few of the best gifts for birders, travelers, and frequent fliers are summed up right here.
On our honeymoon, my husband and I went to Africa on safari. The first morning in Tanzania, we woke at 6am to descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. Just behind us in the jeep sat an older couple. They were chicly dressed, head-to-toe, in shades of safari-brown. This was not their first rodeo safari. In their hands, they held little notebooks with little illustrations of little birds. I turned to the woman, “What are those for?” I asked. “We’re birders!” she exclaimed. My blank look begged for clarification. “Birds! We’re here for the birds.”
I resisted the urge to giggle and pivoted back to Daniel. A smirk passed between us. Later, when we were alone in our lodge, we roared with laughter. Birds? That’s ridiculous! We can see birds at home. Lions! We’re here for the lions!
This Post is For the Bird(er)s
It took me decades to appreciate our fine feathered friends. But, once I got the bug, I mean, bird, it was all over. I bought binoculars, I bought books, I downloaded apps—all for the birds. Only recently, when thinking about a new post idea for I am Lost and Found, did I connect the dots. Birds, flying and traveling. Bingo.
Whether you’re a birder who likes to travel, a traveler who likes birds, or simply looking for gift ideas for the frequent flier in your life, read on for inspiration.
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8 Gifts for Birders Who Love to Travel
I get it. We aren’t called bird nerds for nothing. But once I owned my bird nerdiness, I was set free. Stay in the closet if you must, but the moment you embrace your inner birder, the better. Until then, take a peek at the best gifts for birders who love to travel.
1 / Binoculars
A birder without a great pair of binocs is missing out, literally. With binoculars, birders will take in views they may have never seen otherwise. Some top-of-the-line examples magnify up to 12x and higher, but the current sweet spot for birdwatchers is buying handheld binoculars with a magnification of 8 or 8.5x. From what I understand, this is partly due to image stabilization.
I like this pair because of its compact size and rugged exterior. But, no matter which pair you buy, the benefits of birdwatching are clear. Want to splurge? Watch how those benefits become crystal clear with these luxury binoculars from Swarovski.
2 / North American Bird Pocket Guide
What good are those fancy binoculars if you can’t identify the birds? Go old school and keep a pocket field guide on hand when traveling. An Amazon search results in many options for compact field guides. But, the one that has me clicking won’t be found there.
Birds: An Illustrated Field Guide is visually stunning. Handbound in white leather, the cover can be personalized for your favorite birder. Each spread is a wonder—an illustrated profile of 50 of North America’s most popular birds. It’s a mere 5×7 inches in size, so throw it in your backpack or keep it in your car for easy access.
3 / Better Living Through Birding, by Christian Cooper
I won’t rehash the unfortunate reason Christian Cooper became so well-known. Instead, I’ll thank the bird gods for giving us his beautifully written and engaging book. In this captivating, true story, Cooper recounts how a life spent watching birds prepared him to be a gay, Black man in America.
You needn’t be a bird lover to enjoy Cooper’s wondrous story, Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World. Part travelogue, part memoir, and part primer on the art of birdwatching, it’s no wonder it’s a New York Times bestseller. Cooper’s tale will resonate with everyone.
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4 / Merlin Bird ID App
Sometimes the best gifts cost nothing at all. This gift for birders is not only free, but it won’t take up any luggage space. Hello Merlin.
The Merlin Bird ID app was developed in 2014 by Cornell Lab Orinthologist, Jesse Barry, who set out to answer the simple question, “What bird am I seeing?” Today, the app can identify over 6,000 species across six continents. This can be achieved by picture, whistle, or song. Whether you’re a novice birdwatcher or a fully-feathered bird aficionado, let Merlin answer all of your birding calls.
5 / a birdy told me…
Not long ago, I stumbled upon Pamela Berger’s brilliant website, a birdy told me… I subscribed, and my Fridays haven’t been the same since. Pamela drops a list of swoon-worthy highly curated links into my inbox every Friday.
Pamela’s newsletter format is simple—an effortlessly composed handful of her favorite things. Her favorites might be about home design, art, style, travel, fashion, or culture. Typically it’s a mix of all of the above.
Not a Friday goes by where I don’t find a candle to covet, a book to binge read, or a cross-body to carry. Pamela’s thoughts and links are interwoven with a unique stream-of-consciousness writing style I envy.
a birdy told me… and now I’m telling you.
6 / Bird Notecards
I’m a letter writer. Ok, I used to be a letter writer. Now, I’m a notecard writer. But let’s face it, getting anything in the mailbox that isn’t from AARP or Land’s End is a treat.
Birds are living, breathing, mini works of art. Their plumage, markings, unique body shapes, and feathers make them natural models for artists around the world. It’s not hard to find notecards with bird designs (over two million pop up on Google). What’s hard to find is perfectly executed, species-specific ones that are inspired by real-life sightings.
Brad Sneed is a seasoned illustrator and fine artist who’s well-known for his children’s picture books. But, dig deep into his website to discover his handcrafted notecards. Brad’s work is an ideal gift for any bird-lover who also happens to be a notecard writer. There are more of us out there than you’d think.
I’m in awe of Brad’s feather-light details on the Snowy Owl. I admire the rich red hues of his Red-Bellied Woodpecker’s head. As it turns out, this common woodpecker’s belly is actually pale pink, not red, as advertised. The pink belly can only be detected when it’s hanging upside down. Now that’s a rare sighting!
Each box of eight notecards is exquisite. And, with multiple notecard sets to choose from, good luck selecting just one for the bird lover in your life.
7 / Bird Bingo
Whoever said bingo is just for toddlers and old ladies in Boca Raton has never played Bird Bingo. We were gifted this amazing game when our kids were in elementary school. Years later, I still can’t part with it. Aside from being artfully designed and illustrated, it serves as a genius way to teach kids (and everyone else) about birds.
Glasgow-based artist Christine Berrie’s colored pencils take bingo to new heights. If you can stop coveting the 64-magnificent illustrations for a moment, you can learn that at 11.5 ft, the Wandering Albatross’s wingspan is the longest of any bird. Leave the cumbersome box behind and pack Bird Bingo for your next family trip. When your kids can easily identify a Lilac-Breasted Roller, you’ll have me to thank. Be sure to use one of Brad’s notecards when you do.
8 / Eagle Creek Rolling Duffel
The few times I’ve spotted an eagle in the wild have been momentous occasions. Yes, I need to get out more. Eagles symbolize many things including courage, strength, and freedom.
It’s no secret I’m a fan of Eagle Creek. Their products often end up in my posts for many reasons—but most of all because they last. We’re hard on our bags. And when they finally bust a seam or zipper, Eagle Creek fixes them—free of charge.
The ‘No Matter What’ Rolling Duffel comes in a variety of sizes and colors, making it a must-give gift for travelers and frequent fliers. That it comes in Safari Brown tempts me to book another trip to Africa. Kudos to Eagle Creek’s clever marketing team.
However, the coolest thing about this bag is its ‘Chasing Zero’ process that eliminates nearly all product waste. The other coolest thing about it is that it can compress down into a stuff sack not much bigger than a 7-Eleven 30-ounce Big Gulp.
Wisdom Comes With Age
Twenty years later, we go on safari—again. This time to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Daniel and I are dressed, head-to-toe, in shades of safari-brown. In our hands, we have little notebooks with little illustrations of little birds. Our kids sit in front of us. They look at our notebooks and then at each other. A smirk passes between them. I’m about to explain—but I change my mind.
One day they’ll get it.
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