Loons, Owls, & Nuthatches: Sock Designs Inspired by Birding

When I introduce myself to someone new, I often get asked what I enjoy doing in my free time. I answer firstly with hiking and peak-bagging throughout the Northeast; secondly, that I enjoy birding.

I’m a birder, and you can often find me walking around Montpelier, VT, with a pair of binoculars around my neck looking into the North Branch Winooski River or up in the trees for birds and wildlife.

A New Hobby

In 2019, while living in NYC, I had just finished the Catskills 3500 list and the 358-mile Long Path and wanted a new challenge and hobby to get into. I remember going to the local bookstore and stumbled upon a book called Birding the Hudson Valley. I chose this book because I was able to get to many of the locations mentioned by bus or train.

At the time I was looking into getting a pair of binoculars, but then the pandemic happened, putting my new hobby on hold. I briefly moved home to Indiana to live with my partner.

During that time of shut down, I was able to immerse myself in nature and hear natural sounds. The sounds of nature were no longer covered up by the constant sounds of car horns, the rumble of construction and trains. Instead, I could hear birdsong, insects and the rustle of leaves when the wind blew.

When I was able to visit my mother and grandmother, we would watch the birds out the window or in the back lawn. Hummingbirds, Tufted Titmouse and Pileated Woodpeckers had always been favorites of these two influential women.

Birding in Earnest

I started birding in earnest 3 years ago while out paddling on the Wrightsville Reservoir. My partner Ben often brings his video camera and records wildlife and birds. I have poor eyesight when it comes to objects far away, and I would get jealous that he could see something, and I could not. So, the interest in birding sparked again.

This time, I was gifted a pair of binoculars in fall of 2021. Since then, this hobby has taken off in my life. I started bringing my binos on paddles, hikes and walks in town. I downloaded the apps Merlin, eBird, and Audubon to learn and identify bird song and how to distinguish if the bird was a male or female.

Slowing Down in Nature

Birding helps me to slow down and take in my surroundings; I think that’s one of the biggest reasons why I love it. I no longer rush through a hiking trail to get to the summit for the views. Instead, I listen; I scan the trees and the forest floor for movement and noise. Sometimes I can identify a bird right away, other times I pull out my phone to use Merlin to record the bird call.

The more I bird, the more I know and learn. I love being able to spot a bird and look at it through my binoculars. Not only does that help me identify what it is, but also the sex of the bird. For example, the Pileated Woodpecker males have a red crest (mohawk) and a red mustache, while the females have a red crest and black cheeks.

I also really enjoy looking at all the details of a bird (like their beak, eyes, and feathers) and using those features to help me identify what species I’m looking at.

Favorite Birding Moments

Sometimes, I catch them eating. I once watched a Belted Kingfisher dive from a tree and into the water. When it flew back to the tree limb, it had a crawdad in its beak. He would swing his head back and forth on the branch to kill the crawdad and then swallow it.

Another neat experience I’ve had was while visiting Maine. I watched a Great Blue Heron in a cove wading belly deep, scanning for prey, and then suddenly strike the water and catch a tiny eel!

I enjoy watching birds and their behavior; sometimes it can be very funny or unusual. At my current home, I have a tiny front yard and live on a busy street, so I am not able to have bird feeders.

But when I’m visiting my parents in the Midwest, the first thing I do is buy birdseed to fill their birdfeeders so that I can watch them and see what species come to the backyard. It sometimes takes a few days for the birds to notice the food, but soon enough I’m counting anywhere from 5-15 different birds.

I can track the species of birds and how many with the app eBird. eBird transforms my sightings into science and conservation. I can also use this app to find what birds have been spotted in an area.

Say, if I really wanted to see Cedar Waxwings, which normally arrive in Vermont around April. I can go into the app, search for recent sightings and go to that location.

I normally am not one who travels to see birds, unless the location is nearby. I did, however, travel 2 hours south to Dead Creek WMA in Addison, VT. to see one bird species, Snow Geese in migration. I saw thousands of them fill the fields and sky, a sight I recommend everyone to see during late November.

Darn Tough’s Bird Detective

As a Product Designer at Darn Tough Vermont, I bring creativity and innovation into every stage of the design process, from design research and conceptualizing ideas to crafting presentation boards.

I draw unique and compelling designs that not only reflect current visual, color, and demographic trends, but also cater to specific market needs. Utilizing Illustrator and other tools, I transform these concepts into original artwork for patterns and prints, ensuring they align with our company’s focus on comfort, durability and fit.

Also, it’s not under my job description, but I’m basically the ‘bird detective’ at the office. Whenever my coworkers spot a feathered friend and get all curious about its identity, they come fluttering to me for answers.

Designing Bird Socks

I think the popularity of birdwatching within young people and myself has been an inspiration for us to design more unique socks for birders and nature lovers in the Darn Tough Vermont sock line. These socks feature everything from backyard birds to waterfowl to even the popular birds found on the farm.

To name just handful of socks that feature birds:

Men's Bird Socks

• 6111 Woody – Great Horned Owls, Pileated Woodpecker, and Downy/Hairy Woodpecker
• 6112 Diver — Common Loon
• 6094 Duck Duck Moose — Mallard
• 6060 Strut — Roosters

Women's Bird Socks

• 6114 Mother Clucker — Chickens and Rooster
• 6037 Animal Haus in Clover — Raven (or Crow)
• 6105 Wild Life in Charcoal — Swan
• 5001 Critter Club in Teal — Barn Owl (this is a Last Chance sock)
• 6087 Twitterpated — Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, Goldfinch(this is a Last Chance sock)

Loon Socks & Backyard Birds

One of my personal favorites is the 6112 Diver; it features Common Loons wading through water between lily pads and cattails. Another loon is spreading its wings. Loons are well quipped for their submarine maneuvers to catch fish – hence why we named this style Diver.

Loons symbolize the wildness of the North. I had never seen one until I moved to Vermont. They are a welcome site when I’m paddling or remote paddle camping. Not to mention that their call gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

If one ever has a chance to visit Green River Reservoir, keep an eye AND an ear out for loons; this area is fantastic for watching wildlife.

Another favorite style of mine, and one of my first styles designing for Darn Tough, is the 6087 Twitterpated. This style features many common backyard birds including:

• The Chickadee – I personally enjoy singing “Chickadee-dee-dee” every time I spot one while I’m out exploring.
• White-breasted Nuthatch – these silly birds can walk both up and upside down a tree, they have an appetite for insects and large, meaty seeds.
• The Gray colorway features Red Cardinals — not only are these birds easy to spot with their vibrant red color but also can easily identify their chatty song cheer, cheer, cheer. I chose to include the Cardinal to this design for their common interpretation as a sign or message from departed loved ones, like my two grandmothers who both adored Cardinals.

I love sharing experience and passion through design; I enjoy designing socks because they can inject personality into any outfit and have the power to spark intriguing conversations with a stranger.

At Darn Tough, I cherish the freedom to push my creative boundaries. Collaborating with a team of dynamic personalities fuels my passion, as we uncover new ways to infuse our designs with unique flair and hidden discoverable within the artwork.

Socks I’m Wearing

I get asked what I wear while birdwatching or, more importantly, what socks do I wear. The answer depends on how and where I’m birding.

If I’m strolling around town or walking the fields at North Branch Nature Center, I like to wear something from our Lifestyle collection. My go-to’s are either the 6104 Blossom or Twitterpated.

When I’m hiking and pack my binoculars, I like wearing 5001 Critter Club that features cute forest friends that I may see while on trail, and this sock has the right amount of cushioning needed for support.

I mentioned earlier that my interest in birding grew when I’m out on the water paddling my kayak or SUP. Depending on the season and which boat I’m using, I may either go barefoot, or I will wear the 5013 Northwoods with a pair of sandals. The Northwoods features midweight cushioning for added warmth while I’m on the water.

About the Author

Alex McClain is a lover of nature, a hiker, peak bagger and birder. She has hiked several long-distance treks including the Long Path (2019), Northville-Placid Trail (2022), Wonderland Trail (2023) and soon the Tahoe Rim Trail. She is a Catskill 3500 and NEK Mountain Challenge Peak Completionist, and actively working on completing the Long Trail Side-to-Side and the NH48. Her designs are inspired by natural forms and experiences from her nature outings.