Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is it birding or birdwatching?
  • What's so great about birding?
  • What's the best way to find birding near me now?
  • What are the best birding binoculars?
  • What is Ornithology?
  • Is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker extinct?
  • Why do I keep hearing about birding Ohio?
  • What is a birding Life List?
  • Is Bird Club a club?
  • What happens when I'm in the club?
  • What do you mean by "sustainable brand?"
  • Are all of your products listed on your website?
  • Do you sell gift cards?
  • What payment methods do you accept?
  • Where is my refund?
  • Can I place an order without creating an account?
  • Where is my order confirmation?
  • Why has my order been canceled?
  • How do I cancel my order?
  • Can I alter my order?
  • When will my order arrive?
  • What countries do you ship to?
  • How much is shipping?
  • Can I track my order?
  • Can I return or exchange an item?
  • How do I return an item?
  • What do I do if I lose my return note?
  • How long does it take to return an item?
  • My order has arrived but it’s not as I expected. What can I do?

Is it birding or birdwatching?

Birding and birdwatching can mean the exact same thing for some people, but others like to distinguish between the two. Birding typically refers to actively seeking out and identifying birds both by sound and sight, involving a more engaged and purposeful approach. Birdwatching, on the other hand, is often considered a more passive activity, where one enjoys observing birds in their surroundings. 

Additionally, accessibility considerations now recognize that people without vision can go birding, making "birdwatching" a misnomer for their experience.

What's so great about birding?

Birding is an incredible activity that combines the thrill of a treasure hunt with the benefits of hiking. It gives you an excuse to explore amazing natural settings and encourages mindfulness, similar to meditation. Many psychiatrists even prescribe birding for its mental health benefits. By tuning into your surroundings and learning what to look for, you discover a secret world that has always been there, waiting to be seen. Plus, when you log your sightings, ornithologists use the data for real science and research, making birding the largest and longest-running citizen science project.

What's the best way to find birding near me now?

The best way to find birding spots near you is to use eBird. This tool lets you search for recent sightings and hotspots in your area, showing where various bird species are being seen. Hotspots are locations where multiple species are often observed, making them ideal for birding. Additionally, National Wildlife Refuges are excellent birding spots, and there's usually one not too far away.

What are the best birding binoculars?

When it comes to the best birding binoculars, we absolutely love Kowa. While there's some debate about the top binocular brand, Kowa consistently stands out. For the ultimate birding experience, nothing beats having a pair of Kowa binoculars around your neck.

Full disclosure: we have partnered with Kowa for precision optics. However, we chose to partner with them because we genuinely believe they are the best. Our admiration for Kowa came first, leading to our partnership, not the other way around. This distinction is important to us.

What is Ornithology?

Ornithology is the scientific study of birds. It encompasses their behavior, physiology, classification, and distribution, aiming to understand avian life and its impact on ecosystems. Ornithologists observe and research birds in their natural habitats to contribute to conservation efforts and broaden our knowledge of these fascinating creatures.

Is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker extinct?

Yes.

Why do I keep hearing about birding Ohio?

Birding in Ohio is great, especially during spring migration when many migratory birds stop on the shores of Lake Erie before crossing. The state hosts The Biggest Week in American Birding at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, the largest birding festival in North America, attracting international crowds and offering unparalleled birding experiences.

What is a birding Life List?

A birding life list is a record of all the bird species a person has seen and identified in their lifetime. Traditionally kept in personal notebooks and journals, most birders now use eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology's global database of bird sightings. eBird's incredible statistics allow users to analyze sightings and trends, making it a fun and valuable tool for personal tracking. Moreover, eBird data contributes to significant scientific research, advancing our understanding of bird populations and behaviors.

Is Bird Club a club?

Bird Club is the most exclusive club for everyone. Join our email community or purchase an item to become a member. It's that easy to be part of our one-of-a-kind, nature-loving community.

What happens when I'm in the club?

When you join Bird Club, you gain access to members-only products, exclusive giveaways (including binoculars, scopes, trips, guided tours,etc), expert insights from our Ornithologists in Residence, unique opportunities, tips on treasure spots, input on new products, birding stories from around the world, and so much more. It's an unparalleled experience for bird enthusiasts.

Additionally, according to Curtis, when you're in the club it's a celebration with champagne, and you will likely sip Bacardi like it's your birthday, even if it's not truly your birthday. 

What do you mean by "sustainable brand?"

Being a sustainable brand like Bird Club means committing to extensive research and care in every step of our process. From responsibly sourcing organic materials to ensuring ethical manufacturing and eco-friendly shipping, we prioritize the planet and people. Our dedication to sustainability ensures that every product reflects our core values of environmental stewardship and quality craftsmanship. Join us in making a positive impact while enjoying beautifully crafted, eco-conscious apparel.

The word "sustainability" means creating processes and products that can continue indefinitely without harming the environment or people. This involves using renewable resources, minimizing waste and pollution, and ensuring ethical practices that protect ecosystems and support communities. In essence, it's about meeting today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Are all of your products listed on your website?

No, not all of our products are listed on our website. Some items are exclusively available to our email subscribers, and certain products will only be sold through our email list. Join now to access these exclusive offerings.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes, we do. These are issued electronically by email and each contains a unique reference number. Our gift cards are ideal if you’re not sure what to get that special person in your life. Simply buy a gift card instead.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept the following credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. We only take payment once your order has been shipped. We also accept payment by PayPal or Google Pay. If you decide to use either of these two methods, you’ll be taken to either the PayPal or Google Pay website, where you’ll be prompted to log in and process your payment. You’ll then be directed back to our merchant website once your transaction is complete.

Where is my refund?

We aim to process refunds within three days of an item being returned to us. Please note, however, that your bank may take several days to process the payment back into your account. With that said, please allow up to ten working days after posting the item back to us before getting in touch about your refund. We’ll contact you by email to let you know when your refund has been processed.

Can I place an order without creating an account?

Yes. You can place an order as a guest with no obligation to create an account. We do recommend that you create an account, however, if you’d like to check your order history and have your shopping basket items and payment details saved for next time. 

Where is my order confirmation?

This is automatically sent to your email address when you place an order. If you haven’t received your order confirmation within 24 hours, please get in touch at hello@birdclub.club just in case there’s a problem with your order. Please check your mailbox’s spam or junk folder before contacting in case the order confirmation has been diverted there.

Why has my order been canceled?

We typically only cancel orders if there’s a problem with stock, or if you’ve asked us to cancel. Please accept our apologies if your order is canceled because of a problem at our end. We’ll always offer an alternative product and process your refund in full, as quickly as possible. 

How do I cancel my order?

There is only a short amount of time between when you place your order and when we start processing it. If you contact us straight away after ordering, via support@birdclub.club, we may be able to cancel your order before it’s processed. If not, we’ll despatch your order and then you can return it to us if you wish upon receiving it.

Can I alter my order?

Sadly, we’re unable to modify your order once we’ve started processing it. If you need to order a greater quantity or an additional product, please place a new order online.

When will my order arrive?

Orders that require shipping within the U.S. will be delivered within three to ten days, depending on your preferred shipping method. Shipping to countries outside of the U.S. may take up to 14 days. Please get in touch if your order hasn’t been delivered according to the expected timescales, and we will be happy to check your order status. support@birdclub.club

What countries do you ship to?

We ship to most regions worldwide. However, due to certain circumstances, shipping to some countries may be temporarily unavailable. This list may change over time. Currently, we have suspended shipping to the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Central African Republic, Laos, Gaza Strip, Russian Federation, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen.

How much is shipping?

Shipping costs vary based on the item, delivery destination, and shipping speed. For orders within the US and Canada, shipping ranges from $4.90 to $64.90. Enjoy free shipping within the US for orders over $155.

Can I track my order?

Yes. We’ll provide updates at every stage of your order, from the moment you place it, through to despatch and delivery. In your delivery confirmation emails, you’ll receive a tracking reference which you can use to check the progress of your order online.

Can I return or exchange an item?

You can absolutely return your item to us, within 30 days after receiving it, as long as it’s undamaged, unused and contained in its original packaging with all tags and labels attached. For more details, check our Refund Policy

How do I return an item?

Please contact our customer service team via support@birdclub.club. Providing the return is within the 30-day of receipt window and meets our return criteria, we will issue you with a return note and label. You need to print this off and attach it to the packaging of the product when returning it to us.

Domestic exchanges are on us! But if you're returning for a refund, we need to charge a $9 return handling fee (because we're a small business and need to pay real humans to handle the returns). Don't sweat it, though! You can avoid that fee by opting for store credit or picking out something new.

Hey international friends! For now, you're in charge of return shipping, but don't worry, we'll guide you through it. Unfortunately, we can't do exchanges for international orders yet. All refunds will go back to your original payment method.

Just remember, if your return arrives outside of the 30-day window, we can't offer a refund or exchange :( And if you want your item back, you'll need to cover shipping costs :( :( Questions? Shoot us an email at hello@birdclub.club

What do I do if I lose my return note?

We send return notes by email, so if you can locate the email we sent you, simply print off a new one. If you can’t find this email, please get in touch and ask for it to be resent to you.

How long does it take to return an item?

This depends on the carrier or shipping method and your location. Once we receive your return, we’ll notify you by email. We aim to process refunds within three days after receiving the item into our warehouse, but it can take several days for your bank or credit card provider to process the refund into your account, or onto your card.

My order has arrived but it’s not as I expected. What can I do?

In the rare event that your order arrives damaged or faulty, please take photos of the product in question and email our customer service team via support@birdclub.club with the details. If you just don’t like the product for any reason, we’ll gladly accept it back as a return, providing it’s in “as new” condition, in its original packaging with all labels attached.