bird v Cp OED ~ v 1 'to pursue birdcatching or fowling' (1576-1580). To shoot sea-birds from the shore or small boats; usu in phr go birding.
   1924 ENGLAND 177 'Dat'm me life, brud-swilin', fishin', an' birdin'. I knows were to find dem birds!' 1958 HARRINGTON 32 The boat left the vessel to go 'birding,' but oddly enough, the crew saw only a solitary seafowl. T 185-65 You'd take the [cuffs] and shove 'em on, you know, out birdin', used to have 'em out birdin', out sealin'. Used to always wear swanskin cuffs. P 148-69 The two young men had gone out in the bay the previous evening to go birding, in a dory, and had not returned.

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