As a passionate birdwatcher, you’ve probably wondered how you can take your love of birding to the next level and start a club that gets others involved. The good news is, it’s definitely possible! Just like any successful group, you’ll need to consider a few things before starting. What are your motives? Who are you hoping to reach? Beginners? Advanced birders? Strategizing and marketing your club are all important. Clearly, as with any new venture, there’s a lot to think about! The following are a few more considerations for you to think about as you start your own birdwatching club.
Have People Skills
If you’re the type of person that can’t go a day without birding, then starting
your own club might truly make sense. Among those who have started Birdwatching
Clubs, the most common motive has been a deep personal interest and love of
nature, particularly birding. Yet, turning
a hobby into a club that engages other people is a huge reason start, but not
entirely sufficient to ensure a successful club. Catering to the public in any capacity,
means you must also have people skills and a strong service orientation. Keep
in mind that while birding will be a common interest among your members, you
will have to deal with all kinds of people of different interest levels. You
will need to be enthusiastic about serving them regardless of their behavior or
what is going on in your life. Additionally, you’ll have to have the stamina
and resilience to take over all matters of the club. Overall, you’ll need to evaluate whether you
love birding so much that any issues with members, vendors, or outside issues,
won’t take away from your passion. You’ll have to evaluate if you are ready to
turn your hobby aka your “happy place” into something bigger that will take up
more of your time and energy.
Determine Marketing Strategies
Read, research, read, research. When you’re done with that, read and research
some more! When starting a birding club, reading up on as much as you can so
you can learn about the market is a good idea. Study to know preferences,
demographics, and characteristics of the individuals who may be interested in your
club. Doing so will help you make vital decisions. You may also want to
subscribe to numerous birding magazines, e-newsletters, and articles about
birdwatching. Keep an eye out for advertisements providing info about services
you may be interested in. You’ll want to attend as many birding competitions
and festivals as you can and maybe even consider having a booth at these
events. You’ll want to meet with vendors and those in the birding business to
network and connect. Consider going to
your library to research academic and professional journals to get more information
about members of birding organizations or about birders in general. The
National Audubon Society and the American Birding Association offer newsletters
and publish magazines with information about the latest trends in birding. Be
sure to take note of all of those.
Setting Up the Club
Once you have a good idea of the market and what features you want to provide
through your club such as professional tours, you’re ready to market your club
to reach members. It’s important to understand that the birding market might be
grouped into numerous categories such as: commitment or interest, demographics
or geographic area, and skill level. You may choose to determine your own mix
of marketing tactics. This is where the networking you have done can truly come
in handy. Consider offering members items such as
binoculars and guides that they can borrow
while on your guided tours. You may even plan your tours around birding events and festivals. Perhaps you
could network with the festivals to offer discount tickets for your members.
There are numerous options, so networking is key.
Birding Responsibly
As the founder of a birding club, part of your job is to help your members
understand the importance of birding responsibly. This means taking care of
yourself, as well as the environment around you. If you’re going out with the
group for a long period of time, be sure to encourage your members to bring
water and snacks, as well as to wear
protective and appropriate clothing. Protecting yourself and members from the sun is
important, so be sure to bring and offer sunscreen. A wide-brimmed hat may also
be appropriate. Long, loose fitting
sleeves and pants will help to protect from the sun and biting insects. You’ll
also want to be aware of your surroundings by not walking with a camera or
binoculars over your eyes. And, it should go without saying, that you should
encourage members to take care of the environment by not littering and not
taking anything but pictures. It’s important to note that while feeding birds
in your back yard is a fun way to see wild birds, feeding any wildlife in
national parks is against the law. Encourage your members not to disturb
nesting birds, their eggs, or their nests. If you find juvenile birds out of
the nest, leave them alone. Nature knows best, and their parents are nearby.
Starting your own Birding Club can be a very exciting, though nerve-wracking,
venture. However, if you do your research and truly have birding and people
skills, you’ll be well on your way to a growing and flourishing club in no
time!
