Wild birds are free and colorful and interesting. Wild birds are also accessible, plentiful and unique.

The Lancaster County Bird Club (LCBC) exists to observe and document birds, preserve them and advocate for them. For members of LCBC, birding is more than just a pastime; its a passion, a lifestyle.

"It becomes a way to get out and enjoy nature," said LCBC president Ted Nichols. "Anyone can walk outside of their house, and in 15 minutes, you're going to see a bird. The fact that birds are there is something that makes birding fun. Its not a hobby that requires a lot of money to get into. It can be done everywhere. The people who are into it as a hobby are welcoming, and they're willing to mentor newcomers."

An independent organization founded in 1937, LCBC is made up of over 350 dues-paying members who hail from every part of Lancaster County and beyond. They are from varying walks of life, occupations and backgrounds, and the only thing that they all share is a love of birds.

"Throw a dart at a map of Lancaster County, and every ZIP code is represented by our membership," said Nichols. "But even beyond that, a large part of central Pennsylvania is represented by our membership. That's the interesting thing about birding; it attracts people of all demographics and all ages. They're people of a wide variety of occupations. It's a general cross section of society as a whole. It's a hobby that truly is open to everyone."

LCBC meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month from September through March at the North Museum of Nature and Science, 400 College Ave., Lancaster; in April, May and June at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area visitors center, 100 Museum Road, Stevens; and in July and August at Lancaster Conservancy's Climbers Run Nature Center, 226 Frogtown Road, Pequea. Meetings are conducted indoors and consist of the sharing of recent bird sightings, a 45-minute ornithology lecture and a question-and-answer session.

LCBC also sponsors more than 30 different outings or field trips - at least one every month - at a variety of locations in and around Lancaster County for observing and documenting birds. The meetings and many of the field trips are open to the public.

"It's a lot of what people want to make of it," said Nichols. "Some people take photos, some record audio, some draw. For the most part, we observe birds through binoculars."

"Checklisting is a big part of the hobby," he continued, explaining checklisting is identifying and recording different species by sight or sound. "That data is recorded, and we keep it on account for the club. Some people have zero interest in keeping lists. They want to live in and enjoy the moment."

There exist 10,000 species of birds worldwide, 355 of which have been observed in Lancaster County.

"We're a club with a long history," said Nichols. "But the focus of getting out and seeing birds remains the same. If you have an interest in birding, we're here to cultivate that. Once you get involved, it doesn't take long to see the regular birds in Lancaster County. Birding opens your eyes to the conservation measures in play."

For additional information about the Lancaster County Bird Club, go to http://www.lancasterbirdclub.org/.