When spring is in full bloom, it means migratory birds are returning north in large numbers. If you’ve ever glimpsed a flock of swallows twisting and weaving in unison across the sky and wanted to learn more about the feathered beings all around us, birdwatching is the perfect hobby for you. In this article, I’ll share tips for easing into this relaxing and rewarding pastime.
Table of Contents
- Why Take Up Birdwatching?
- Essential Birdwatching Equipment
- Starting Places for Birdwatching
- Birdwatching Techniques
- Identifying Common Birds
- Connecting With Local Birders
- In conclusion
- Birdwatching FAQs
Why Take Up Birdwatching?
Setting out your binoculars and field guide to identify birds provides many benefits beyond simply enjoying nature. Spending time outdoors in parks, woods or wetlands has proven mental and physical health advantages. Birdwatching is also a quiet and calm activity you can enjoy alone or with friends at your own pace. As you get to know backyard birds by sight and song, you’ll feel more connected to the natural world outside your door. And don’t forget the thrill of spotting an unusual or rare species! Birdwatching is easy to immerse yourself in whether you have a little or a lot of free time.
Essential Birdwatching Equipment
To confidently recognize birds, you’ll need a few key tools. Optical binoculars are a must-have for bringing distant birds into sharp focus without disturbing them. Entry-level 7x or 8x binoculars in the $50-150 range will meet most needs. For advice on choosing binocular specs, check birding equipment reviews online.
An up-to-date field guide is your bird identification bible for quick reference in the field. Look for guides specific to your region, with photos of all expected species. I like the Sibley and National Geographic field guides for their clear images and descriptions.
While not required when starting out, advanced birders enjoy using a camera or spotting scope to study identification marks in more detail. Many now record sightings on a smartphone birding app too. But don’t worry about going all out on gear yet – your eyes and a field guide will take you far.
Starting Places for Birdwatching
Once equipped, where can beginner birders find potential hotspots? Stay close to home first as you learn the ropes. Your own backyard is a convenient place to start by putting out feeders and identifying visitors. Nearby neighbourhood parks and green spaces often host easily observable birds as well.
When venturing further afield, look to nature centres, wildlife refuges, arboretums and coastal areas attractive to migratory birds. Staff at these sites typically offer guided bird walks tailored for newcomers. Estuaries, beaches, and wetlands are great seasonal places to discover wading birds and waterfowl up close. For migration periods, check a birding guide like eBird for peak sighting locations.
Birdwatching Techniques
To develop your birding eye, learn techniques that make birds feel comfortable enough to stay within view. Slow, quiet movements are key – no loud talking or sudden motions that flush birds. Combine periods of observation with active listening for unfamiliar bird calls and songs.
When observing birds through binoculars or a scope, move slowly and deliberately. Jerking your arms or making fast adjustments can easily startle birds nearby. Take your time centering each new bird in the viewfinder.
Focus your binoculars slowly and patiently as birds flit about. Study each sighting through the lenses and jot down key details in your field notebook to aid future identification. Take note of behaviours, plumage differences between sexes, and compare live birds to book illustrations back home. With practice, you’ll learn to spot birds and discern subtle field marks rapidly.
Listening skills are just as important as visual scanning. Familiarize yourself with a library of common bird calls and songs through audiobook guides. With experience you’ll pick up subtle cues like song variations between species. Carrying a portable recorder lets you compare field recordings to references later on.
Pay attention to flock activity too. Some birds like sparrows feed close together, while others maintain more space. Watching interactions and following flight patterns of a group provides valuable clues to identification. Taking note of accompanying bird species can also lend insights.
Photographing birds respects their space if done discreetly using a telephoto lens from a distance. Reviewing sharp images at home allows closer scrutiny of field marks compared to memory alone. Just be sure locations and behaviours of sensitive species remain private.
The more data points gathered on each sighting, the stronger one’s recognition abilities become over time. Birdwatching is like developing any new skill – patience and focused practice are key to progressing up the learning curve.
Identifying Common Birds
The best approach is to start by familiarizing yourself with 10-20 of the most typical backyard and parkland birds in your area. Pay attention to overall size, shape, and coloring patterns rather than specific feathers at first. Listen for the timing and cadence of each species’ distinct vocalizations too.
Some classic beginner birds include northern cardinal, American robin, European starling, house sparrow, mourning dove, and blue jay. Shorebirds like killdeer and gulls are excellent spring identifiers along coastal routes. With your field guide as a visual reference you’ll soon develop the right questions to ask when puzzling over an unknown bird. Before long you’ll be identifying them with ease.
In addition to the birds already listed, some other good starter species include northern mockingbird, American crow, downy woodpecker, and dark-eyed junco. Waterfowl like mallard ducks and Canada geese are also abundant in many locales. Learn to recognize their basic silhouettes, songs, and behaviours before venturing further afield.
When practicing identification, study overall body size and shape more than specific plumage patches. For example, robins are plump with short tails, while blue jays are larger with crested heads. Listen for robins’ repetitive phrasal song and jays’ raspy cries. Over time, applying a process of elimination based on sight and sound will lead you to the right ID.
Don’t forget to observe seasonally variable aspects as well. Birds like crows are glossy black year-round, but others like grosbeaks display bright breeding colors only in warmer months. Field guides include these important differences to watch for.
Carry your guide with you when birding and review sample illustrations frequently at first. Bring your workbook to jot down questions about confusing species. Over weeks of review and birding, the relationships between birds and their characteristics will solidify in your memory.
Connecting With Local Birders
No one expects you to immediately recognize every single bird. That’s where hooking into the community comes in. Local birding groups, nature centres and reserves host identification workshops perfect for novice birdwatchers. Guiding experts don’t mind reviewing species you’re unsure of either. Tagging along on group outings introduces you to new favorite birding spots as well.
So don’t be shy about introducing yourself at birding community events and outings. Other enthusiasts genuinely enjoy helping newbirders develop their skills. Guiding experts can confirm IDs, provide tips tailored to local species, and point out birds you may have overlooked. You’ll pick up tricks of the trade from more experienced eyes.
Be sure to bring your notebook to record insights from group encounters. Jotting down questions, as well as birds observed by others but not yourself, maximizes learning. Don’t hesitate to follow up after the outing by comparing notes in your field guide.
Contributing checklists to eBird is simple using their helpful app or website. Along with the species you note, try adding useful details like location, number of individuals, plausible breeds if known, and any interesting behaviours spotted. Over time, your documented sightings build up a profile valuable for scientists and helps attract rarities to your patching “life list.”
As your skills and familiarity with the community grows, consider leading casual bird walks yourself. Or volunteer as a grounds helper at a nature centre. Giving back to local conservation efforts and inspiring new birders are great ways to further your enjoyment of the hobby. Before you know it, you’ll be immersed in the avian wonders all around—and helping others join in the fun too!
In conclusion
I hope this introduction to birding fundamentals gives you enough to get excited to start exploring the birds all around you this season. Remember to be patient and don’t rush the process of learning by watching, listening and practicing identification techniques. With some binoculars, field guide and eBird app in hand, your next walk in the park or scenic trail could reveal a whole new world of feathered friends to you.
Birdwatching FAQs
What equipment do I need to start birdwatching?
At a minimum, a good pair of binoculars and a field guide to your region’s birds. Optional gear includes a camera, notebook, and birding app.
How can I attract more birds for birdwatching?
Put up a bird feeder with Black-oil sunflower seeds or suet cakes. Planting native trees, bushes, and flowers also provides food and habitat to lure birds.
Is birdwatching hard to get started with?
Not at all. Even identifying a few common backyard birds gets you birdwatching. With practice, it’s easy to develop your skills for spotting new species.
How do I use binoculars effectively for birdwatching?
Scan with your binoculars and focus slowly so you don’t startle birds. Centre each sighting in the viewfinder before observing details like size, shape and color patterns.
What sounds should I listen for when birdwatching?
Pay attention to the distinct songs, calls and other vocalizations of birds. Their sounds are often the best way to tell similar-looking species apart.
How do I identify bird songs and calls when birdwatching?
Listen for qualities like tone, pitch, repetition and phrasing. Use a field guide or birding app to compare to audio examples. With practice your ear will learn to pick out subtleties.
How do I know where to look for birds when birdwatching?
Scout trees, shrubs, grasslands, wetlands and other habitats. Birds also congregate around food sources like feeders, Berry bushes and puddles. Coastal and migration hotspots can be top spots too.
What information should I record when birdwatching?
Note the date, location, species name, number of individuals, activity, distinguishing marks and behaviours in your field notebook. Snap photos if possible.
How do I get better at identifying birds when birdwatching?
Focus first on common local species and practice regularly. Take notes to review. Connect with other birders for help with tricky IDs too. Your skills grow over months and years of dedicated birdwatching.
How can I safely view birds up close when birdwatching?
Use binoculars or a spotting scope from at least 20 feet away so you don’t disturb feeding or nesting birds. Avoid loud noises and quick movements too.
Which apps are helpful for birdwatching?
The Merlin Bird ID app and eBird community platform are excellent ID aids that also help scientists. Using apps enhances the birdwatching experience.
Do I need to know the scientific names of birds?
For beginners, common names are fine. But learning key bird Orders helps with identification. Scientific names become more important for advanced birdwatching.
How do I join a local birding community?
Search meetup.com, visit nature centres and search Facebook for birding groups in your area. Attend their events like field trips to meet other birders and boost your skills.
Is birdwatching suitable for all ages and abilities?
Yes, birdwatching is a very inclusive hobby. People of all skill levels and physical abilities can still appreciate and identify birds in their own way. It’s a lifelong activity.