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Field Guide for Bird Watching
You most likely want to know about the birds you see, not just the way they look.
If you’re traveling, you can use a comprehensive field guide for birders, like one from National Geographic or the ever-popular Sibley Guide. Or, if you’re sticking to one region (like state birds), you can get a guide that will give you an even more detailed look at local birds.
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Bird Feeder
Another way to attract birds is to get a bird feeder. You can put this on your backyard or porch. Over time, birds will slowly learn your location as a food source.
You can gradually establish trust with the birds this way and eventually get closer to them in your own home than you would anywhere else. You could also put the feeders in a place you can see through your window or door and take pictures of birds that way too!
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Bird Feeder Options
Depending on your region and the season, you could get:
- a sunflower
- suet
- hummingbird feeder
It may seem obvious, but some may not realize that it is pointless to put up loads of hummingbird feeders and sugar water during the winter if hummingbirds have migrated and aren’t in the area at that time. Besides, in most climates, the water would freeze anyway!
Check your local bird or animal supply store, and you could ask them, or you could do some research online to determine what’s best.
A Birdwatching Notebook
If you like to document the birds you’ve seen, it’s easiest to keep track of them in a notebook!
You can do this for various purposes, such as:
- Trying to see all the birds in a specific region
- Increasing your knowledge for your birding club
- Use it for mental health and journal what you did that day and any birds you saw as a therapeutic activity
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Birdwatching Apps
You could also document your birds through an app, which tracks where and when you go, and you can even join a community of like-minded people.
You could also see what people you know are doing, what they have seen, and share experiences through apps as well. Others may help you or give you ideas as to places you haven’t looked at yet.
However, apps have more than one use!
While they can help you join a community through virtual means, they can also double as your notebook mentioned in the previous step.
Apps can help with bird identification, providing sounds and pictures included (even more helpful than a regular field guide!)
Using an app on your phone can also limit the amount of stuff you carry. The less you have to pull out of your pack, the less noise you’ll be making!
Not only that, but some apps give you things to do while you’re waiting, such as learn more about birds or answer bird trivia to strengthen your knowledge base.
You could even watch informational videos or tutorials on bird watching while you’re waiting too!
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Other Birders
Joining other birders in this activity is optional. You may like to join people in your bird watching endeavors, or perhaps you prefer to go solo.
Even if you see yourself going alone in the future, the best way to learn is through others – so perhaps you could at least start in a little bird watching group.
It could even be fun, and the knowledge you pick up through experience will surpass what you’re likely to gain from your own research!
You could even make friends with people who are interested in the same things as you are! They might also give you information about birding events and what they usually find.
The Takeaway
So, now you know a little more about what binoculars you need. You also know some insider tips on how to go about bird watching.
You know you can use apps and pictures to record what you see. And you know what to bring. You know all you really need to know to get started!
You’ll learn with time, experience, and research about types of birds. Whether you join a group or go solo – the choice is yours. Just make sure you have a good time and try to see some birds!
