Bird Watching Advice - By: Rachael Stone

For those who haven't gone bird watching, it can look like an odd past time. Yet for ones who have tried it, it can be very rewarding. Bird watching (aka birding) is an opportunity to grasp a closer look of nature. Discover a new way of looking at the world by examining the lives of birds -- including mating behaviors, feeding, and protecting their young.

Learn the best tips on how to enhance your birding experience so you can have the best time possible.

Beginning Bird Watching:

If you are just starting, going with professional bird watchers can be helpful. There are groups you can join, such as the Audubon Society or American Birdwatching Association. They offer such amenities such as lists of birds in the local area, birding books, magazines and articles. Sometimes, they have field trips you can go on to get some experience in bird watching.

When and Where To See Birds:

You can see birds at different times of the day, but certain birds have times they are more active. For example, songbirds start singing and eating two to three hours before sunset. Shortly after sunrise, hawks and eagles become more active as they soar in the warmer, thermal air currents. Owls are more active at night when they are looking for food with their night vision, and shorebirds feed after high tide.

Watching Birds At Feeding Time:

Having a backyard feeder, bird bath, or bird house encourages birds to visit your yard. You can also find them in their natural habitat, eating the foods they would normally eat. Songbirds like seed and many bird types like niger, millet and sunflower seeds. Many birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and cardinals like peanut butter and suet. Hummingbirds are especially drawn to red and like sugar water in feeders. Though it is not healthy for hummingbirds, some people add a small amount of red food coloring to the sugar water. Birdbaths offer birds a place to drink water and to cool off during the summer.

Looking For Breeding Birds:

Unlike humans, birds breed according to specific seasons. Additionally, some migrate before having their young. Many birds breed in springtime or early summer in order for their young to be old enough for fall migration. In the fall, some birds are more difficult to identify as some get heavier feathering and duller colors for migration.

Spotting and Identifying Birds:

You will want to move quietly so you do not frighten the birds. To help you identify a bird, you will want to pay attention to certain hints such as: its habitat, plumage and color, behavior, silhouette and the songs or calls it makes. Also, looking at the beaks can give you a clue and watching what they are doing with it. Woodpeckers have rigid beaks for chipping wood, while hawks, eagles and owls have sharply hooked beaks for tearing up prey. Most backyard birds like cardinals, finches and sparrows have conical beaks while shorebirds have long, slender bills for digging in the sand and prying open shells.

Bird Watching Gear To Bring and Wear:

Of course, binoculars, cameras and something for taking notes is something you need. You may want to keep track of the time of day and activity you witnessed particular birds. You may also want to write down characteristics of the birds you are not familiar with so that you can look them up later, or take along a bird identification guidebook.

Being able to blend in your surroundings is important, so dress in dull colors. Camouflage is the thing to keep in mind to see the most birds. Additionally, clothing that snag, squeak or rustle can scare birds away. You may want to have boots, warm clothing and rain gear. Night vision binoculars are especially useful for seeing owls as they are usually only seen and heard at night. You might want to consider a hand-held recorder for songs and chirps of birds that you don't recognize to look up later.

After Your Bird Watching Experience:

Take advantage of the time after birding to review your notes and try to identify the birds you were unable to name during your outing. You may want to get a tape of different bird songs and calls to assist with identification. Using a field guide can be extremely helpful for matching what you saw with detailed pictures and specific characteristics.

You can spend many enjoyable hours birding without spending very much on special equipment.

About the Author

Use birding binoculars to enhance your outings. Binoculars made specifically for birding help you enjoy more

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