Bird Watcher's Digest
Encyclopedia
Bird Watcher's Digest is a bimonthly birding magazine that has been in publication since 1978. Bird Watcher's Digest was the first consumer bird watching magazine. Still today, it is the only national family-owned and operated bird watching magazine.
The magazine was first launched in Marietta, Ohio
, from the living room of founders William and Elsa Thompson. Knowing very little about publishing, the Thompsons gathered their resources and mailed out 32,000 copies of their first magazine in September 1978.
The next five years would prove to be the toughest in BWD history; however, the Thompsons beat the odds and became part of the mere 2 percent of new publications that survive. In 1983, BWD moved into its first professional office building—a second floor of a construction company that had available office space. Three years later the Thompsons expanded the business when they purchased the building.
In 1994, Bill Thompson, Jr. left BWD to become vice president of his alma mater, Marietta College
. His wife Elsa, and children still work for the family company: Bill Thompson III
, as editor, Andy Thompson as publisher and Laura Thompson as circulation director.
Today the business has expanded beyond the magazine. The company publishes a bimonthly newsletter (Backyard Bird Newsletter) and has expanded into other bird-watching products, books and booklets such as the backyard booklet series and The Original Birdhouse Book.
Many well-known individuals in the birding community have written for Bird Watcher’s Digest, such as former President Jimmy Carter
, Roger Tory Peterson
, David Allen Sibley
, Kenn Kaufman
, Eirik A. T. Blom, Julie Zickefoose, Dr. David Bird and Scott Shalaway. Guitarist Ted Nugent has contributed an article for the BWD web site.
Bird Watcher’s Digest occasionally partners with and supports Wild Birds Unlimited and Wild Bird Centers as well as key non-profit organizations including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Wildlife Refuge Association, The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Hawk Mountain and various nature and birding festivals.
The magazine was first launched in Marietta, Ohio
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
, from the living room of founders William and Elsa Thompson. Knowing very little about publishing, the Thompsons gathered their resources and mailed out 32,000 copies of their first magazine in September 1978.
The next five years would prove to be the toughest in BWD history; however, the Thompsons beat the odds and became part of the mere 2 percent of new publications that survive. In 1983, BWD moved into its first professional office building—a second floor of a construction company that had available office space. Three years later the Thompsons expanded the business when they purchased the building.
In 1994, Bill Thompson, Jr. left BWD to become vice president of his alma mater, Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
. His wife Elsa, and children still work for the family company: Bill Thompson III
Bill Thompson III
Bill Thompson III is the editor of . His most recent book is "The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of Eastern North America" . He is also the author of Bird Watching For Dummies , and author of 18 different state bird watching books in the Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide series from Cool Springs...
, as editor, Andy Thompson as publisher and Laura Thompson as circulation director.
Today the business has expanded beyond the magazine. The company publishes a bimonthly newsletter (Backyard Bird Newsletter) and has expanded into other bird-watching products, books and booklets such as the backyard booklet series and The Original Birdhouse Book.
Many well-known individuals in the birding community have written for Bird Watcher’s Digest, such as former President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, Roger Tory Peterson
Roger Tory Peterson
Roger Tory Peterson , was an American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and educator, and held to be one of the founding inspirations for the 20th century environmental movement.-Background:...
, David Allen Sibley
David Allen Sibley
David Allen Sibley is an American ornithologist. He is the author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds, considered by many to be the most comprehensive guide for North American field identification....
, Kenn Kaufman
Kenn Kaufman
Kenn Kaufman is an American author, artist, naturalist, and conservationist, known for his work on several popular field guides of birds and butterflies in North America....
, Eirik A. T. Blom, Julie Zickefoose, Dr. David Bird and Scott Shalaway. Guitarist Ted Nugent has contributed an article for the BWD web site.
Bird Watcher’s Digest occasionally partners with and supports Wild Birds Unlimited and Wild Bird Centers as well as key non-profit organizations including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Wildlife Refuge Association, The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Hawk Mountain and various nature and birding festivals.