How to Get the Most Out of Bird Watching
Tips for Novice Birdwatchers to Help Them Learn and Enjoy the Birds
Nov 28, 2008
It’s not unusual to spend several hours on a woodland trail and not see a single bird. If one does flit into view and it’s not a familiar garden bird, most people have no idea how to identify it. It’s not that the birds are missing or strange—it’s that the approach is wrong. To really enjoy birds in the wild, you have to go birding in the right place at the right time, with the right gear, and with a little prior knowledge.
Get Ready for Birding
To really start enjoying birds, pick up some basic equipment: binoculars, a bird field guide, and a notebook. Then learn how to use them.
Edward W. Cronin writes “A little time spent learning the right way to identify birds makes all the difference. Start birding indoors with your head, not outdoors with your feet” (p. 8). He means that birders should take some time to learn about birds common in their area, and learn how to use a field guide before actually trying to identify birds in the field.
Get used to the binoculars at home as well—it takes practice to aim at the thing you want to look at and then focus quickly. It’s unlikely that the binoculars will focus on objects inside, so practice outside or through a window. (Be careful not to offend neighbors who might think you are spying!)
Train your eyes to spot birds. It’s difficult to separate the movement of a bird in bushes or trees from natural movement caused by the wind, but the more you look, and look carefully, the easier birds will be to pick out. If there is a feeding station nearby, close to dense vegetation, this is a perfect place to practice. Sitting quietly in a wooded park in the early morning or evening is good as well.
Plan Ahead to Go Birding
Pick a birding destination in a natural setting. Then spend a little time with the bird guide to learn which birds are likely to be present.
Make sure you have gathered everything you need:
- Binoculars
- Field guide
- Notebook
- Appropriate footwear
- Appropriate clothing, preferably with pockets for your gear
- A hat, preferably one that shades the eyes but doesn’t obscure vision
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Food and water
- A map, if the location is unfamiliar
Go Birding
When you go birding, timing and approach matter:
- During the spring, summer, and fall, birds tend to be more active in the woods in the early morning and evening. In the winter, go any time of day. Water birds and raptors can also be seen at any time.
- Spring and fall, when birds are migrating, are good times to see birds that aren’t usually present. These migrants are just passing through.
- While bird watching, be quiet, move slowly, and even stop for short periods. Watch and listen. Birds will give themselves away.
- Return to locations you’ve already visited at different seasons—the birds you encounter will be different.
Be an Ethical Birder
Don’t disturb birds or other animals, damage the environment, or annoy other people. Practice good birding ethics.
With a little patience and practice, good timing, and careful technique, anyone can become a knowledgeable and skillful birder.
Sources:
Birds of North America. Kaufman, Kenn. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
Getting Started in Bird Watching. Cronin, Edward W. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986.
Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Floyd, Ted. New York: HarperCollins; 2008.
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