LA Times covers SoCal birding

A generous anonymous coworker gave me a copy of the Times' weekend Calendar section this morning. The cover blurb: "Paradise of Birders: Not far from your favorite freeway, Southern California offers havens for that species of naturalist with an avian avocation."

Inside, the headline read "Flights of fancy: Angelenos might see the city as a concrete jungle, but to nearly 500 species of birds and those who watch them, it's a rustic aviary."

One sidebar listed seven birding sites, such as Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve aka Back Bay (above). The other spots included El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach, Ballona Wetlands, Madrona Marsh in Torrance, Malibu Lagoon, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale and Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Van Nuys.

The article included a field guide description of a "bird-watcher."

Latin name: Avian obsesus
Description: The average American birder is 45 and older, Caucasian and relatively affluent. Adults of the species typically wear earth-tone colors, L.L. Bean jackets and hiking boots. Binoculars and fanny packs are common accessories.

It also cited voice, habitat, nesting and range. What do you think of its necessarily concise portrait of birders?