| The question of when bird watching or birding was | | | | elected leaders of the ABA, and the newly ratified |
| officially considered a past time, hobby, or sport is hard | | | | laws of the ABA. This new issue was popular for |
| to answer. No one really knows the true date that | | | | many reasons and was a wealth of information to the |
| birding was defined, but many believe it to be around | | | | birding community that was quickly growing in number. |
| 1968. This isn't just a lucky guess; it's believed to have | | | | The ABA's membership had grown from their original |
| become an actual past time in 1968 due to the first | | | | 128 members in 1969 to 1,872 in 1974, a difference of |
| known birding publication was produced in that year. | | | | 1744 in as little as five years. |
| This publication was called The Bird Watcher's Digest | | | | The 1970's brought some evident changes to both |
| and could be describes as more of a newsletter than | | | | Birding and the ABA. In 1976 for the first time since the |
| anything. There were only about 5 pages of literature, | | | | first 5 page publication in 1968, Birding printed a |
| but it was the first official document of a bird watching | | | | publication that was 400 pages; a vast different from |
| nature. This new literature was founded by the | | | | its meager beginnings. Also, the ABA recognized their |
| "American Bird Watchers Association" or the ABA as | | | | second president, Arnold Small. In 1977 the cover of |
| they deemed themselves. With this newly proclaimed | | | | Birding began to take on a different appearance, |
| association quickly came America's official interest in | | | | printing beautiful covers that awed many bird |
| bird watching. | | | | enthusiasts. There was also a bit of disturbance in the |
| Once the American Bird Watchers Association was | | | | birding community between east coast versus west |
| established so was a membership status. You could | | | | coast. It seems that many were annoyed with the |
| buy a years' membership for the nominal fee of $3.00. | | | | Californian birding styles that were constantly being |
| So what did this newly found literature encompass for | | | | praised. |
| the sport of bird watching? For the first time in | | | | From its beginnings in 1968 to 1988 Birding had gotten |
| publication, there was a publication not only providing | | | | behind schedule in its publications as well as harder to |
| documentation about birds, but also listing the rules for | | | | understand. It was up to Editor Paul Lehman to bring |
| this new found sport. In 1969 the title changed from | | | | the journal back to its origins and back on track. He |
| The Bird Watcher's Digest to simply Birding as | | | | focused on making the magazine easier to understand |
| became the popular term for bird watching, and is still | | | | for readers and outlined a number of focal points to |
| in print today. The magazine prints and distributes their | | | | expand on. In 1989 Lehman made good on his |
| issues every other month to their readers. | | | | commitment and came out with a very different |
| As more issues were published the official guidelines | | | | looking magazine that boasted a completely new |
| for birding were defined. Also in 1969 it was proposed | | | | layout. Lehman helped take the magazine back to |
| that the ABA that originally stood for the American | | | | being the true form of communication for the birding |
| Bird Watchers Association be changed to the | | | | community. |
| American Birding Association. By the end of that year | | | | In 1992 the ABA focused on the demographics of their |
| there were already 128 members participating in the | | | | member. They soon realized that a majority of its |
| ABA as well as newly appointed officers in the | | | | members were over 40, as a whole, they were |
| organization. Between the ABA and the Birding | | | | getting older. Alarmed with the statistics, they focused |
| publication, birding was becoming a popular sport. With | | | | on gaining a younger demographic by offering reduced |
| the rising popularity would also bring a change in both | | | | membership as well as youth camps. They realized |
| the publication as well as the organization. | | | | that without some sort of change, the sport of birding |
| In the short period of three years the publication was | | | | could begin to dwindle. Although membership was up |
| ready to take on a more professional appearance to | | | | to 10,200 active members, the concern of gaining |
| the bird watching world. Birding was made into a more | | | | young birders was still an issue for the ABA |
| journal like publication in 1971 and no longer took on the | | | | community. |
| appearance of the mere newsletter form that it | | | | It being 2007, almost four decades have passed since |
| originated from. The new publication gave readers a | | | | the first publication of The Bird Watcher's Digest¸ |
| variety of articles to read. There was a total | | | | now known as Birding. The hopes of the ABA have |
| expansion on pieces that delved into the true art of | | | | been recognized, and the art of birding is rapidly |
| birding, no more were there just species lists and | | | | growing among North America and Canada. As many |
| opinion pieces, but true reporting pieces that brought a | | | | have been taking notice, with growth also comes |
| new form of excitement. | | | | change. The new birders don't necessarily hold on to |
| The July/August edition of Birding in 1973 brought quite | | | | the same ideals as the older generations of birders. |
| a buzz to the birding community. It was the first issue | | | | The new generation is also more focused on the |
| to have pictures printed in the publication. It was also | | | | newly emerging technology that many old timers might |
| the first issue to report on the first convention held by | | | | shrug away from. The Birding magazine is also feeling |
| the ABA in Kenmare, North Dakota. The edition printed | | | | the impact of the new generation due to their updated |
| in July/August help define many of the new aspects | | | | staffing crew. |
| of the ABA such as their checklist report, newly | | | | |