(NAPSA)—That’s a cardinal! There’s an American goldfinch! Wait, do you hear a blue jay? America is going to thebirds... literally. Birdwatching, also known as “birding” amongst true enthusiasts, is the fastest growing hobby in the United States, second only to gardening. According to the National Audubon Society, millions of Americanswill flock out into the wild this summerto spot everything from Chickadees to Woodpeckersin their natural habitat. Birdwatching is an opportunity to spend quality time outdoors with your family and learn about wildlife. Birdwatching is serious business. More than 65 million Americans spend over $30 billion annually on goods for watching and studying birds. They’re even extending this hobby into collecting anything bird-related. Bird lovers of all ages have already started collecting Wild Republic Audubon birds, 5” plush beanbag birds with authentic birdealls. Wild Republic, a leading provider of nature-themed toys, worked closely with Audubon to make sure each bird species is an accurate replica of its wildlife counterpart. For the bird sounds, they enlisted the help of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which provided actual real-life birdcalls recorded in the wild. “While Audubon birds make great children’s toys, they are extremely popular with adults and collectors, especially bird enthusiasts,” says John Trenta, Wild Republic. “Birdwatching is a great way to learn more about the birds’ characteristics, habitats and sounds. Collecting Audubon birds is a natural extension of this popular hobby.” To learn more about Audubon Bird enthusiasts can extend their hobby into collecting with realistic-looking and sounding Audubonbirds. birds and their wildlife counterparts, log onto www.wildrepublic. com. While visiting the site, you can also see a variety of species of birds from aroundthe country and hear their birdcalls. Birdwatching or collecting can foster curiosity of wildlife in the home. Whether you’re watching hummingbirds from your sunroom or scouting a local store for an Audubon bird, both can be truly enjoyable. Children may find both to be pure adventure...trekking through the woods, spotting different types of birds, listening for their distinctive sounds and then collecting their favorite plush birds. To get started in “birding,” you need supplies. Binoculars are crucial to spotting the tiniest of species. You also need field guide, whichis the next best thing to having a bird expert at your side. And, to keep track of the birds you see, carry a sketchbook along on each birding adventure. For more about birds and birdwatching, log on to Audubon’s Web site, www.audubon.org, or The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Web site, www.birds.cornell.edu.
