Birdwatching: Find the Birds You Want to See

Across the world, there are many different people interested in birdwatching. Although there may be some regional tips and tricks, here are some that should be helpful everywhere:

1. Check the Weather

It is always a good idea to check the weather before you make any plans. Almost every bird will flee to their nest during a storm of any sort. If you want to see a particular kind of bird out in the open, then plan for a day when raining and thunderstorms are unlikely. If, however, you wish to track what a bird does in its nest, you may want to look for days when it is raining.

2. Blend In

Birds are constantly on the lookout for predators. If you make loud noises, wear flashy colors, or do anything suddenly, it is very likely that birds will fly away. Birdwatching professionals wear clothing that blends in with the surrounding nature (white in snow, green in trees and grass, brown in deserts, etc.).

The longer you stand still, the closer birds will come to you. Birds are curious by nature and want to investigate anything they do not see as a threat. If you stand still long enough, and don’t make any sudden movements or noises, you may get the view you were hoping for.

3. Figure out the Location

Different birds hang out in different places. A crane or heron will hang out near a pond, not a desert. A seagull or pelican is going to be near the ocean. If you are looking for a certain type of bird, go where they are likely to go. Do not make this mistake.

Here are some good bird books for those that live in the United States:
National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America, 7th Edition
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Western Region

4. Decide on Which Birds You Want to See

You can not expect to go out and see every bird you want on any given day. If you feel like looking for a specific bird, look up its range, its feeding times, when it is likely to be out, and its recent locations and sightings on the web. Many birds wake up at dawn and clean themselves. After that they start looking for food. This is often a good time to go looking around for birds. Other birds (typically larger birds), however, wait until a few hours after dawn.

5. Looking for Nocturnal Birds

If you are looking for nocturnal birds (like owls), plan ahead. Get to your location way ahead of time. Most nocturnal birds are very silent. Their wings make almost no noise. You will have to bring a flashlight (or night vision goggles) in order to see most birds.

Many, more experienced, birdwatchers spend hours listening to different bird sounds. However, it takes a trained ear to hear the differences and to recognize based on sound alone. Again, for inexperienced birders, it is recommended that you bring flashlights and/or night vision goggles.

6. Do Not Feed the Birds

Many people have a hobby of feeding pigeons (doves) or other back yard song birds. This is a good healthy habit for people to engage in, and it provides an additional source of food for birds that are constantly in search of additional food sources. However, when birdwatching, one should never feed the birds.

Many of the birds that do not regularly go to people’s back yards are not  used to human contact on a normal basis. Feeding them may make them angry and attack you. Cranes, herons, and egrets should never be fed, as they are often inclined to attack the feeder (especially if they have young nearby).

7. Bring Binoculars, and an Extra Camera Battery

If you are planning on birdwatching, you should not go without a good pair of binoculars. Binoculars will help you in identifying birds you do not recognize and watching them as they move across your field of vision. This is a popular model for birdwatching.

Bring an extra battery for your camera (or phone). The last thing you want is for the battery to die when your about to take a photo of a rare bird.

8. Get a Good Bag

If you are planning on birdwatching for many hours, you should bring water and some snacks. You will need a good sturdy bag for carrying all of your goodies. It should also be big enough to carry your camera/binoculars (to give your hand some rest).

Make sure the bag is good quality and has multiple pockets. You do not want to squish your snacks.

Make sure your bag is not noisy. For this reason, many birders bring leather bags, as they do not produce as much noise as other bags, such as plastic bags or bags with Velcro pouches.

Do not bring a flashy bag. If it stands out to you, then it will certainly stand out to a hawk. Here is a good choice. It is brown and large enough to carry a variety of items.

9. Look Around

So many birders find one bird and focus on it. They watch it alone for anywhere from half an hour, to many hours. However, many birdwaers recommend not just focusing on one bird. Look around every now and again; look for other birds. It is common for a birder to focus on one bird, and miss a much rarer bird. An easy way to avoid this is to bring a friend.

I hope that these tips help you with your birdwatching. Look around on planandorganize.com for other fun, and useful, articles in helping you out with your everyday life! Have fun!