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How To Bird
Watch
If you really have the desire to bird
watch there is a certain way to go about it for
beginners. Remember, as mentioned before, anyone can
take up the sport of birding, it just takes time to get
acquainted with the ins and outs. The first step is to
acquire a pair of binoculars, adjust them to your preference,
and try them out a few times before you actually need
them. The binoculars are so that you can get a better
view of the bird without having to get so close that you might
scare it off. Also, not all binoculars are created equal;
there are different types that offer different functions. It
might even be helpful to ask a salesman to explain the
differences between different models.
It's good to get in the habit of
locating birds with your eye first, without the aid of the
binoculars. This is important because you have a greater range
of vision with the naked eye than you do with binoculars
initially. When focusing primarily through binoculars
you might miss the chance of locating the bird due to the
smaller field of view. Binoculars have the primary
objective of narrowing in on an object for better
definition. It's wise to wait on using the binoculars
until you have already found your target.
Now that you have the primary equipment
needed, it's time to go look for birds. How do you find the
birds? It's a good idea to learn the habitats of birds so you
know what to look for. It's important to note that each
species of bird have their own habitat preference, birds are
much like other animals that in each breed, or species is
different. Once you know what to look for and where to look,
the task of finding birds will become much easier. It's also
helpful to listen as well; you may often hear the bird before
you see it.
So you've found your first specimen,
what exactly are you looking for beyond identifying that it's
a bird? Although it may be difficult to decipher, color
is definitely something to look for when birding. If you
have the opportunity to observe color, you are very lucky
because normally it's hard to view colors correctly, even for
the most seasoned birder. The difficulty in observing
the correct color of a species is due to many factors such as
lighting as well as shadows which make it hard to be
accurate.
Size is another factor to consider when
birding. Size can help you rule out certain other
species quite quickly. For example it is quite obvious
that a small bird such as a Mountain Blue bird wouldn't be put
in the same category as a large bird such as a Heron or Hawk.
Size can also be deceiving though. You must take into
consideration the conditions that you are observing the bird
in. If the bird is flying overhead, the size of the bird
may appear much larger or smaller than it actually is. If you
find yourself in this situation, it is sometimes helpful to
compare the size of the bird to something equal in distance
that you are familiar with such as a tree.
Shape and profile is also something to
look for when birding. It's highly suggested to invest in some
sort of bird guide. A bird guide is easy to take into
the field with you and will help you to identify birds.
Once you become familiar with the certain characteristics of
birds through the guide, you will be able to rule out certain
types on shape and profile alone. A bird guide is also helpful
when you are out in the field and spot a bird you are not
familiar with. The guide provides information as well as
pictures to help guide you through and is helpful to beginners
as well as those familiar in the sport of birding. Once
you become more comfortable you can graduate to the National
Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America 3rd
edition.
Also not required, but very useful are
a notebook, backpack, and a hat. The notebook is for you
to record what you see when observing. The more you
write, the more you tend to observe, then later you can review
your notes. The backpack is so you don't have to lug
everything around by hand. You can also keep things such
as bug spray, water, and a snack as well as anything else you
might want to take along. The hat is obviously for your
head. When out birding you are being exposed to the
elements and the hat will help shade your eyes from the sun
without interfering with your use of binoculars.
It's also helpful to find a check list
for your area. This will help you know what to expect
when birding. Checklists can be found through many state and
national parks, as well as online through your local
department of wildlife website. Birding.com also has
checklists for every state and province in the United States,
Canada, and every country in the world. This can be
found by clicking on the bird checklists link and choosing
your desired location.
Another fun way to get involved in
birding is to find a birding trip in your area. Depending on
where you live, sometimes local bird trips are advertised in
local newspaper or magazines. These trips are usually led by a
local park ranger or a member of one of the many birding and
wildlife societies. You can look online at birding
organizations for information or contact your local rare bird
alert phone number; this can be accessed by state at
birding.com which is quite a handy reference. When you call
the number they first go through a list of rare birds in your
area, and then sometimes mention any trips at the end of the
call. Usually these trips are free of charge, but it is wise
to check if there is a fee beforehand.
Now that you have a better
understanding of bird watching or birding, it's time to go
enjoy your newly discovered
interest.
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