There is no denying the beauty of birds flying across a clear blue sky, or the splendor of the sounds of the songbirds, or the magnificent power of a raptor as it dives at prey.
Migratory birds add color and music to the spring.
These are all pleasures that even the most casual observer can enjoy. But millions of Americans consider themselves to be birders, people who spend time in the field identifying birds. For every birder there is equipment to buy, from binoculars to field guides to tents. These communities thrive on impressive sums of tourist dollars as avid birders return each migratory season hoping to catch a glimpse of a flock taking off for the day or to sight a rare bird. Birds can be used as environmental indicators to assess the health of an environment.