Cool birbs.

There are memes for almost any subculture. You just need to know where to look. This became really clear to me after diving into the nerdy world of birding. As a kid, my Dad and I would visit parks and marshlands, Audubon book in hand, looking for birds both rare and common. While my favorites were always colorful or endangered (Roseate Spoonbill, anyone?), I've since broadened my formerly particular affections for avian life. While I never stopped enjoying scoping out the trees and forest floo…

I consider myself a novice birder. Due to my "gainful" employment, I don't have the leisure time to indulge in the wholesome activity, so I play Wingspan to try to ease the agony of deprivation. Last night, the game's tranquil soundtrack helped me drift off to sleep. There's something about the sound of sweetly chirping birds and the twinkling of a harp that is so soothing. Playing Wingspan, which was undoubtedly created with birders in mind, is as near to board game therapy as it gets, dependi…

You ever hear of a little thing called ‘ Rule 34 ’? If not, well, you're in for a treat. It's probably even a concept you're familiar with. From Know Your Meme : "Rule 34 is an Internet adage in the "Rules of the Internet" list of protocols and conventions which asserts that "if something exists, there is porn of it." The humorous concept is commonly illustrated through fanarts and fanfictions in which fictional TV and cartoon characters engage in sexual behavior, in a similar vein to the Ruine…

The birding community is a special one. In my experience, they take care of the land where they're seeking a glimpse of the next rare bird. They smile at their fellow binocular-ed passersby, share good spots (but not all of them), and pick up trash as they go on their way. The hobby is (mostly) a respectable one, involving an appreciation for living things. It's allowed me to be more present, soaking up the quiet beauty of most surroundings. It's tough to be a birder in New York City. The same…

I identify as an amateur birder . I don't get the time to indulge thanks to my “gainful” employment, so I try to assuage the pain by playing Wingspan. Last night I fell asleep to the lull of the Wingspan soundtrack. Birds chirping, soothing harp sounds tinkling. Playing the game (which was definitely designed for birders) is as close as it gets to video game therapy, or board game therapy if you're playing the analog version. The serenity, however, comes at a cost. I fell asleep during the last…