It is estimated that there are around 18 million active birders in the U.S., according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These are people who make trips away from home with the sole purpose of spotting different and unique species of birds. While this number is probably a bit over-inflated, it still gives you a general idea as to the popularity of this particular activity or hobby. Bird watching is one of those activities, that once you start, you’ll be hooked for life. Although numbers and opinions differ, there are estimated to be somewhere in the range of 800 – 1,000 bird species that inhabit North America. That’s a lot of bird spotting!