If you’re looking for an enjoyable and relaxing outdoor pastime, you should give birding, also known as bird watching, some serious consideration. It’s a relatively inexpensive activity that can be done almost anywhere at any time.
Getting started in birding is easy and it’s one of those hobbies that you won’t outgrow. There are really only three things you’ll need to get started in birding: a field identification guide, binoculars and a notebook.
Field Identification Guide
A bird identification guide book becomes a birder’s best friend. These books list everything you would ever need to know to identify a bird - from characteristics, color, plumage patterns, locations, sounds and more. The great thing about these books is they are generally soft-back and small enough to carry around without getting in your way. You can find these wherever books are sold.
Binoculars
While binoculars are not required, they are a desirable piece of equipment to have when you are birding. Viewing a bird through binoculars enables you to learn more about a bird. In some cases it can be nearly impossible to identify a bird without seeing its small physical details. Look for binoculars that are light, compact and powerful such as 7x35 or 10x50 binoculars.
Notebook
Just like binoculars, having a notebook isn’t a requirement for birding. However, keeping a record of the birds you cross paths with adds to the enjoyment of the sport. Many birders note the type of bird they observed and where and when they observed it. Some take it a step further and list the page number the bird is referenced on in their field identification guide book in their notes.
No matter where you live every habitat will have its fair-share of interesting birds. You are more likely to observe more birds in the following scenarios:
Busy Seasons for Bird Watching
Birds are around all year and birders can birdwatch 12 months out of the year. However, the best time to see a wide variety of birds is during the migration times - Spring and Autumn. Of these two seasons, Spring is by far the best time to see birds at their best and they’ll be easier to identify. Autumn migration will generally bring a variety of birds through your area, but often their colors are more subdued due to molting.
Time of Day for Bird Watching
Birds are early risers. The best time to catch birds going about their business is the hours between sunrise and mid-morning. During the cold months birds will be out more during the warmest part of the day.
Bird Watching Habitats
The more varied habitats that you can visit, the more likely the chances will be that you will see more birds and different species of birds. Places to consider include streams, swamps, lake areas, fields, forests, mountains and prairies.
Observing Birds
Birding goes a bit further than just simply watching birds. Birders take in a bird’s appearance and behavior to identify it in their field identification guide. To identify a bird you will need to observe its color and markings, size and silhouette, behavior and habits and its songs/calls.
Bird Color and Markings
While some birds are easily identifiable by their color, such as the Eastern Bluebird, some birds aren’t easy to identify because they are the same color as others. In these instances you’ll have to note the field markings of a bird. Field marks are things such as the shape of the bird’s body and bill, its tail bands, eye rings and other notable things that differentiate it from its cousins. Noting a bird’s color and field markings goes a long way in helping your identify a species of bird.
Bird Size and Silhouettes
Size and silhouette is an important thing to note about a bird when you are observing it. Comparing its size and silhouette to birds you are already familiar with can help you begin identifying it in your field guide book. Is it thinner than a blackbird and smaller than a crow? Those types of questions will become automatic once you get into the swing of birding.
Bird Behavior and Habits
Watching what a bird is doing and where he is doing it can help you distinguish a bird from another species that looks similar. Is the bird feeding on the ground or in a tree? Is it eating seeds or bugs? Is it hovering or soaring? Is it in a marshy area or in an open field? Answering these types of questions opens up a bird’s world to you and will give you valuable information.
Bird Songs and Calls
Birds have their own distinctive sounds. Calls are brief bursts of one or two notes. Songs have a rhythmic, recognizable pattern that contains a series of notes. Birders that have been birding a while can often identify some birds simply based on their call or song. You can listen to bird calls and songs via the Internet or you can generally purchase CDs of them wherever field guides are sold.
Birding is a very relaxing hobby that can be done by the old and young alike and it can be whatever you want it to be. It can be an occasional activity that is done from your front porch or back yard or you can travel alone, with a friend or with a group all over your region in search of birds. The best thing about birding? It’s a great way slow down, get away from today’s stressful pace and to enjoy nature at its best.
Recommended Reading
For more information and advice on bird watching, take a look at the following books:
The Backyard Bird Lover’s Field Guide
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds
Join us
The best part of Female Forum is our community. Take a look at our forums and join the most welcoming and friendly online community around.
Share this article
Email Tweet This! Share on Facebook Stumble Digg Save to Delicious
If you enjoyed this article, you may like to subscribe to Female Forum. Subscribing is free and ensures you won't miss any future articles.
What do you think?
Discuss this article here, or chat about other topics in the forums.