Bird Watching Advice
- By Rachael Stone
- Published 08/24/2009
- Pets
If you haven't gone bird watching, you are in for a great
treat. There is so much to see, hear and learn while bird
watching. Discover many of the different types birds and
their behaviors. For example, watching a hummingbird
protect its territory can show another side to what seems
like a dainty little bird.
When going bird watching, you want to have the best
experience, so taking along appropriate gear as well as
timing your adventure can improve your outing. You'll also
want to know how to identify the many species of birds
while being comfortable.
Beginning Bird Watching:
For beginners, consider teaming up with professional bird
watchers. There are groups you can join, such as the
Audubon Society or American Birdwatching Association. Not
only do they offer magazines, articles and books, but they
also have a list of birds you can look for. 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. Peanut butter attracts a
lot of birds like cardinals, woodpeckers and nuthatches,
although they also like suet. Hummingbirds are especially
drawn to red and like sugar water in feeders. Some people
add a drop of red food coloring. Birdbaths offer birds a
place to drink water and to cool off during the summer.
Looking For Breeding Birds:
Birds breed at certain seasons and some migrate to nesting
grounds. Many birds breed in springtime or early summer in
order for their young to be old enough for fall migration.
They are harder to identify in the fall because some put on
duller colors for the migration and some put on heavier
feathering.
Spotting and Identifying Birds:
Birds are easily alarmed, so you need to move stealthily.
Basic clues to look for and listen for when identifying a
bird are: 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.
You will want to dress in dull colors so that you blend
into the surroundings. Camouflage is the thing to keep in
mind to see the most birds. Also, fabrics that rustle, snag
or squeak will scare birds off. You may need rain gear,
such as boots and warm clothing. Owls are best seen and
heard at night, so a flashlight might come in handy. 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.
Bird watching is a fun and relaxing hobby that doesn't take
much in the way of special equipment or extra expense, but
can provide hours of entertainment.
treat. There is so much to see, hear and learn while bird
watching. Discover many of the different types birds and
their behaviors. For example, watching a hummingbird
protect its territory can show another side to what seems
like a dainty little bird.
When going bird watching, you want to have the best
experience, so taking along appropriate gear as well as
timing your adventure can improve your outing. You'll also
want to know how to identify the many species of birds
while being comfortable.
Beginning Bird Watching:
For beginners, consider teaming up with professional bird
watchers. There are groups you can join, such as the
Audubon Society or American Birdwatching Association. Not
only do they offer magazines, articles and books, but they
also have a list of birds you can look for. 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. Peanut butter attracts a
lot of birds like cardinals, woodpeckers and nuthatches,
although they also like suet. Hummingbirds are especially
drawn to red and like sugar water in feeders. Some people
add a drop of red food coloring. Birdbaths offer birds a
place to drink water and to cool off during the summer.
Looking For Breeding Birds:
Birds breed at certain seasons and some migrate to nesting
grounds. Many birds breed in springtime or early summer in
order for their young to be old enough for fall migration.
They are harder to identify in the fall because some put on
duller colors for the migration and some put on heavier
feathering.
Spotting and Identifying Birds:
Birds are easily alarmed, so you need to move stealthily.
Basic clues to look for and listen for when identifying a
bird are: 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.
You will want to dress in dull colors so that you blend
into the surroundings. Camouflage is the thing to keep in
mind to see the most birds. Also, fabrics that rustle, snag
or squeak will scare birds off. You may need rain gear,
such as boots and warm clothing. Owls are best seen and
heard at night, so a flashlight might come in handy. 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.
Bird watching is a fun and relaxing hobby that doesn't take
much in the way of special equipment or extra expense, but
can provide hours of entertainment.