Bird Watching For Novices
by S.G.R.BIn the rapidlyincreasingfascination with birding, there are lots of factors that can affect which birds you spot or if you even see them at all. A beginner’s field guide of your spotting area will give you a better idea of which species you can expect to oberve, and in which season to see them. A field guide may also help you identify any birds that you wish to identify. Some of the greatest field guides known to bird watchers are the Peterson field guides. There is a Peterson Field Guide for Eastern birds and there is one for Western birds, both have numerous details about the birds you can expect to see in local areas.
A notebook and pencil are an essential addition to a bird watcher’s gear, as they will grant you to write down notes and sketching pictures of the birds you have seen. It is a common mistake to resort to your field guide the minute you spot a bird. Instead, spend as long as you can observing the birds and their colors, beak colors and features, flight patterns, song notes, “chirp” patterns, size, and leg length. Scribble these findings down on your notepad, and identifying the bird will become much less strenuous than just flipping through through your field guide and guessing by looking at photographs.
Another essential piece of gear for any bird watcher is a high quality binocular, such as Nikon Monarch ATB binoculars. As many bird watchers will tell you, the main difference in quality between a $50 binocular and a $700 binocular is amazing. You want to be able to notice every possible detail about a bird once it is seen, and a high quality binocular can be the difference between
viewing what you think may be a cardinal, or easily identifying a cardinal at first sight. With a high resolution, it will make identifying birds more simple, and you will be able to more finely observe fine details and even the eating habits of the species.
the ability to hear well can also affect the number of birds you are able to spot on your bird watching adventures. be sure to listen for calls and songs, as these can be huge clues to what species the bird you are observing really is. One cool thing about your senses is that they all may be used at the same time, therefore listening to a bird while observing it is very possible, and quite enjoyable. Look for beak and throat movements to ensure the bird you are observing is the one you are hearing. There are actually many aided hearing devices used by bird watchers that can amplify the natural sounds around you in very high definition, and mute sounds as loud as a clap to protect your hearing. These may make it much easier to hear distinct call patterns and songs.
One of the most important things in birding is to have fun! Go out and join a group or club dedicated to birding and go on adventures with people with similar interest in bird watching. Take photos of the birds that you have seen and keep them in a photo album. There is no doubt fellow bird watchers will love seeing these pictures as well as sharing their knowledge with you, making birding that more pleasant. Once you have been bird watching for a while, you will be able to identify a bird just by viewing a glimpse of it flying by or by hearing a few chirps. Remember to always be kind to nature and the animals that live in it, and nature will be kind to you in return.