Once solely the realm of white-haired aristocrats with too much leisure time on their hands, birding -- or the pastime of studying and watching wild birds -- has exploded in recent years. In fact, it's downright stylish: not since John James Audubon painted his first bobwhite have American birds been this popular.

Part conservationalists and part eco-tourists, modern-day birders seek out fowl in their natural habitats, scouring wildlife refuges and parks for that one elusive warbler or thrush. Many find it an attractive alternative to hunting and fishing, two sports in decline due to increasing American environmental consciousness and a desire for easier, more inexpensive ways to enjoy the outdoors.

"There's never a guarantee that you're going to see what you hope to see," says Carolyn Ragan, a local birder. She describes a recent hike in which her birding group spotted a female Harlequin duck, an endangered bird in the Northeast. "Sometimes you get these wonderful surprises. You just never know until you go."

Ragan has been birding for more than four years with the Rochester Birding Association (RBA), the largest amateur organization for birding and bird conservation in the area. With more than 350 members in its ranks, the RBA is best known for its free field trips, held almost every weekend of the year in various local parks, like Mendon Ponds and Durand-Eastman Park. The RBA also hosts monthly meetings every second Thursday of the month, where they invite experts to speak on birding topics (The topic at the next meeting on October 11: identifying gulls).

The group is also active in local conservation efforts, providing money to the Genesee Land Trust to purchase at-risk lands and important bird habitats. Two years ago, the RBA contributed $15,000 to help purchase five acres next to the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory.

The RBA is so active in Rochester because, quite simply, so are the birds. Rochester is like the LaGuardia Airport of bird migration, an international hub of constant activity. Every spring, more than 100,000 hawks and eagles pass through Rochester, followed by an onslaught of warblers (small, hyperactive birds that like to forage for bugs). In the winter, dozens of species of ducks and geese congregate along our rivers and shorelines.

"We're very lucky in Rochester," says Richard Ashworth, former RBA president and treasurer and current board member. "There always seems to be something happening."

September, in particular, is the height of winter migration. According to the association, an average of 189 species pass through our area, including sparrows, thrushes, waterfowl ,and shorebirds (water-loving birds with small bodies and long, thin legs). Shorebirds love all the natural rivers, lakes and wetlands in the Rochester area, and often, they'll take a leisurely pit-stop at Hamlin Beach and Irondequoit Bay on their way south from Canada.

This month is also a good time to catch woodland warblers as they start their long trek down to Central and South America. They like to hang out in the trees and bushes at Durand-Eastman and Charlotte Park, says John Boettcher, current RBA president.

"One of the delightful things about birding is the connection to the seasons," says Boettcher, who has more than 20 years of  birding experience in the Lake Ontario area. "There's a lot of serendipity involved, but nature works in rhythms."

Birding is no longer a pastime just for stodgy, white-haired bird fanatics, draped in binoculars and clutching dog-eared field guides. Although the RBA has members well into their 90s, Boettcher says the youngest member is only 14, and the sport is open and accessible to anyone, regardless of skill level.

Ashworth says that the best way for a beginner to get started is to join the RBA for one of its many field trips. "If you're a complete novice, you need help. We know where to go, and the [hike] leaders are always very keen to help you spot birds and identify them."

Conveniently the RBA runs a number of outings specifically designed for novices; the next one, a hike to seek out shorebirds, waterfowl, and songbirds in Charlotte, Durand-Eastman Park and Irondequoit Bay, is scheduled for October 20. But unless otherwise indicated on RBA's website, beginners are welcome to join all the field trips.

"Birders are the friendliest people, and the most helpful," says Ragan, who is co-leading a hike in Burroughs Audubon and Auburn Trail on September 22. "You just have to speak up, and someone will help put you on that bird so you can learn."

Be sure to bring binoculars, though. "Seeing a bird at a distance, you get an idea of what he's all about, but when you put binoculars on him, you can really pick out feathers and colors and behaviors that you can't see with the naked eye," she says.

Ashworth also advises that you familiarize yourself with the local birds hopping about your backyard before hunting for more exotic varieties. "Get to know the cardinals, the robins," he says, "so when you look for more unusual birds, you'll know the difference. It's not just the look. It's in the behavior."

For more information on Rochester Birding Association membership, field trips, or monthly meetings, check out its website, rochesterbirding.com, or call John Boettcher at 671-9639.