I recently wrote a small guide on bird feeding. I thought it would be good to write one on bird watching as well.
Bird watching is a very fun pastime and I enjoy it a lot. It's relaxing being in the heart of nature and far away from the bustle of everyday life. To start bird watching there are a few thing you will need.
I've created a list of these things:
Equipment
Equipment includes; Binoculars, a bird guide, water, bug spray (optional), hiking boots, a bird caller*(optional), comfortable clothes, chairs (optional), and a hat.
Binoculars are hard to buy because you want to make sure you have the right ones. A good binocular would be 10x50. The 10 means that it makes the image appear 10 time larger.
The 50 is the diameter of the binoculars so the higher the number the brighter the image is. You should choose binoculars between 7 and 10 and 35 and 50. You should also look at focus. The binoculars should have a focus minimum of 10 ft. Price is also important.
Expensive binoculars around 500 dollars aren't worth the money for bird watching. A good pair should be around 50 dollars. Make sure they are not to heavy to carry. An average bird watching trip is at least an hour.
There are many bird guides out there. It's hard to choose the right one. I suggest buying a book that has birds only in your area. There's no need in buying a bird guide for 20 extra dollars that is full of species you'll never see in your area. I recommend Stan Tekiela's field guides. He only has a few for some states around the great lakes. The birds are arranged by size, and color which is very handy for fast identification. If he has not made one for your state, I recommend looking for similar guides. They will help you a lot.
Water is obviously very important. On hot summer days your body can lose lots of water form sweat so drink plenty of water while bird watching.
Bug spray is always good to bring, just in case. If you are bird watching a couple of days after a large storm and the forest floor is wet, then it's a good idea to bring some spray. Forests are the worst when it comes to bugs. Always store some spray in a bag no matter when and where you go.
Hiking boots, clothes, and hats are also important. Bring clothes that suit the weather and conditions you'll be facing that day. Hats are a good thing because they; keep the sun out of your eyes, protect from ticks and other bugs, and keep your head cool or warm. Boots are necessary. They help you walk through mud and on sharp rocks and keep your feet from getting tired fast.
*A bird caller is a device that you play and it helps identify bird songs. If you do decide to bring one, make sure it's not too loud or you have headphones connecting to it. If the birds hear it they can be scared off or become agitated.
Location
Location is important depending on which types of birds you want to see. A good bird guide will tell you were they like to live. Some parks have mixed types of areas so you can see a wide variety of birds. Some areas aren't better than others, it just depends on what birds you want to find. Make sure you wear proper clothes for each area.
Here are a few of them:
Woodlands
Woodlands are home to many warblers and woodpeckers. You may also see thrushes, woodcocks and other ground dwellers. Hawks and owls can also be spotted in these habitats. It's always important to stay quiet and no make mush noise. This is always harder to do in woodlands because of the leaves and sticks on the ground. Pay attention to bird calls. If you do not know them by heart, follow the song until you find the tree it's in. Then, look up and try to spot the bird. This is probably the best way to bird watch here.
Prairie, grassland, open fields
When you come upon an open field, you'll want to spot the birds by sight rather than sound. Many birds can be seen here flying back and forth, from forest to forest. Typical birds here are; American Goldfinches, sparrows, hawks, bobolinks, kingbirds, and some swallow. Also look for birds on small, flimsy, grass and occasionally trees that grow there. Binoculars are very good to use here.
Wetlands, swamp, water
Wetlands are home to many ducks and geese. There are also many heron, swallow, and blackbirds in this habitat. Look round the water banks and you will see many types of these birds. Swallows can be seen catching bugs over the water. An untrained ear might mistake bird calls and frog calls together. So if you are a beginner, I suggest you sight watch or bring a bird caller with you.
Have fun
Always have fun while bird watching or other nature activities. Please make sure that you do not harm or disturb the birds in any way. NOTE. Keeping a bird list is what many birders do. For every bird you find, record it on a list. You can keep a life list or start one very year. It's completely up to you.
