May is Warbler Neck Awareness Month. This month we are highlighting the affliction with a series of blog posts and new WN Awareness merchandise. While all birders are liable to suffer from the pains of Warbler Neck, certain types of birders may suffer more than others. If you're a lister or a newbie, pay attention, especially during May, which is Warbler Neck Awareness Month.

The Lister: Birders who need certain species ticked off their year list, county list, state list, park list, or other list are more likely to suffer from WN on a given day. The need drives the birder to continue searching through the pain.

The Newbie: Sometimes the pain of WN aren't felt until hours or even days after the actual birding event. Blissful ignorance can lead to hours of nonstop canopy-watching, which then leads to a mountain of pain.

Help spread awareness about Warbler Neck with original WN Awareness gear from Birdorable and sister site MagnificentFrigatebird.com. Stay tuned to both sites for more information about WN.

Other posts in this series: What is Warbler Neck? | Triggers for Warbler Neck and side-effects | April Giveaway: Warbler Neck Awareness Swag

Warbler Neck Awareness Month begins in just over two weeks. You may be wondering, "What exactly is Warbler Neck?" Here is some background information on this unfortunate affliction. Gorgeous warblers in bright breeding plumage migrate through much of the United States during the months of April and May. Spring migration means that birders are on full alert, and birdwatching outings outnumber all other activities. In order to see these colorful little birds, birdwatchers must typically look high up into the trees, up in the canopy where the hungry migrating beauties are most active. The birds are searching for food to fuel their travels. Many are also singing, looking for potential mates and establishing territories. Birding requires patience. Finding a bird that is constantly moving around takes practice and skill. And it means looking up, way up, for an extended period of time. All this sky-high searching often results in a big pain in the neck: Warbler Neck.

Birdwatchers by Sugar Pond

The day after your next birding excursion, if you feel aches in your neck, shoulders, or upper back, you can blame the warblers. You've got Warbler Neck. Help spread awareness about Warbler Neck with original WN Awareness gear from Birdorable and sister site MagnificentFrigatebird.com. Stay tuned to both sites for more information about WN.

May is Warbler Neck Awareness Month. Warbler Neck (WN) Awareness is promoted with a cerulean blue awareness ribbon, one side of which is transformed into a feather, shown here at left. Over the next few weeks, we'll be highlighting WN and how it affects birders during migration. We'll discuss the symptoms and remedies (to stop birding altogether is not an option most sufferers choose).

We'll also be sharing our new line of Warbler Neck Awareness designs with you. Our Birdorable line of WN designs feature the cerulean blue awareness ribbon-feather, and a cute Birdorable warbler or two. This awareness campaign kicks off today and will continue through the next few weeks, here on Birdorable.