From birdwatching to birding: Tips for how to become a birder

Over the past several months, I’ve met people who have read the stories I did about birds. Several have asked questions about how to get started birding. Here’s what I’ve discovered so far. I hope it encourages you to start a new hobby . . . birding.

It seems to me that there are at least two kinds of bird observers––bird watchers and birders. For fun, I googled the difference and found that my understanding is shared by many. Bird watchers tend to watch the birds while they’re traveling or sitting on the deck. Birders plan trips to go to places to see birds. As Bob Duchesne, vice president of Main Audubon’s Penobscot Valley Chapter, explains, “It is the difference between passive and active.” It’s like the difference between watching golf or soccer on the television or actually playing golf or soccer. I encourage you to read the rest of Duchesne’s article. It feels so true to me.

The other difference I see between bird watching and birding is the intentionality level of both. Bird watching just seems to happen while birding is planned. With that comparison stated, here’s what I’ve discovered about planning to go birding.

First, there are certain things you need to invest in as a birder – not many, but each is important:

1. Good, lightweight binoculars. I started with an old pair of binoculars we already had. They were heavy and hurt my neck. More importantly, I couldn’t really see anything through them. I thought it was just my diminishing eyesight until I used a friend’s binoculars for a while. Her binoculars, compared to what I had been using, were as different as night and day. Bob and I researched what was available in the price range I was comfortable with, narrowed my choices down to three, and then tried them all out. I now have a really good pair of binoculars that are lightweight to carry and to hold up to my eyes, and that allow me to see birds that are even behind leaves in a tree. If you want to be a birder, spend your money on binoculars.
2. A good book on birding. Birding books are not that expensive, and there are tons to choose from. I’ve discovered, however, that you don’t need many. In fact, my birding friend Craig Taylor swears you only need one––Sibley Birds East (or Sibley Birds West, depending on which side of the US you live in).
3. Merlin Bird ID. This free app is sponsored by The Cornell Lab and allows you to search for bird identification by descriptors you see or by scrolling through birds that can be seen in a specific area.
4. A wide-brimmed hat or visor. Birds are often up in the sky or high in a tree. Looking into the sun is brutal. A good hat or visor will become your best friend while birding.
5. A small notebook and pen/pencil. Have a designated place to list your bird identifications. Many birders keep lists by date and birding location so they can evaluate how successful different birding opportunities were.
6. Optional: An outdoor travel/activity vest. Seriously, I’ve just purchased my first one, and I’m excited about it. As we go birding, I carry my binoculars, my camera, and at least two lenses, extra SD cards for the camera, paper and a pen to keep track of what we see, my phone so I can use the Merlin Bird ID app as we go, and a protein bar, so I don’t become a whiner. I don’t have enough hands or pockets in my jeans to keep up with everything. I found the perfect travel vest for me from Eddie Bauer that was more than 50% discounted. Score.
7. Optional at the beginning: A camera with a telephoto lens. We found that we wanted the opportunity to photograph the birds we saw. It’s another whole skill set, so it’s not necessary to invest in it as you begin, but you may want to do so eventually. It took me only four months before I was ready to get a telephoto lens.

Second, work with your binoculars to develop three basic skills:

1. This is probably a no-brainer, but learn to use your binoculars. Birds fly in the sky and hop from branch to branch. It’s difficult to find them through your binoculars when you first start. Instead, locate the bird with your eyes, keep your eyes on it, and then raise the binoculars to your eyes. It takes practice!
2. Learn a new pace for walking. Birding is not exercise. You won’t get your heart rate up, but you will strengthen your patience. Listen for a bird to sing or call and then follow that sound. It takes practice and patience to wait for the bird to call again or make a large enough move that the leaves will stir.
3. Learn the characteristics to focus on to make bird IDs. Audubon gives five characteristics that birders look for: the overall size and shape of the bird; the bird’s bill–length and shape; the markings on the bird’s feathers; and how the bird acts. For example, we couldn’t identify different ducks from a long distance away, but Craig could from a cell phone photo by the shape of the body alone. This takes time!!

Third, plan for your outing:

1. To start, begin with an outing of an hour or so. Use the Merlin Bird ID app and search for birds that are being seen in the area you’ll be in. The app will show you possible birds in the area by designating if the birds are common, uncommon, or rare by location. Become familiar with the birds you are likely to see. Different birds are attracted to different habitats, so pay attention to which birds are seen on the ground or in bushes, which are seen in trees, and which are found near water. It can help in identifying what you see.
2. Birds are more active in the morning and in the late afternoon. At mid-day, they tend to disappear and get quiet. Plan your time accordingly.
3. Pack water, sunscreen, and snacks. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and dress in layers if the temperature will change.
4. Wear clothing that has subtle coloring. Avoid bright colors. Some experts feel the birds can see bright colors as a threat. We tend to wear light blues, grays, and greens.
5. Be aware of the ethics of birding. Talk softly, so you don’t scare off the birds. Be aware of other birders and don’t interfere with what they are doing. Don’t get too close to the birds or do anything that will interrupt what the birds are doing. The American Bird Association put together a code of ethics. Take time to read it.
6. My husband and fellow birder, Bob, suggests you view the movie The Big Year, starring Owen Wilson, Jack Black, and Steve Martin. It’s a tongue-in-cheek look at three birders who are trying to set a record for seeing the most species of birds in one year. It’s fun and will give you some idea of the hobby. Just keep in mind that it’s a little over-the-top!

Fourth, after birding, do two things:

1. Compare your list of identified birds to the information in your bird guide. Make sure that the pictures, photos, and information confirm your bird identification. The difficulty in identification is that some birds have different colored plumage at different times of the year. You’ll also have to recognize both the female and male of each species and recognize juvenile birds of each species that may or may not look like their parents at that stage. There’s also a difference in some species between breeding and non-breeding males. It’s a lot to learn and takes time. Craig Taylor takes photos of every bird sighting possible so he can enlarge the photo to see more details. His numbers of birds actually went down the first couple of years as he got more accurate with identifications. It’s easy as a beginning birder to mix up bird IDs.
2. Make sure to list the birds you’ve identified. Most birders keep at least two lists––a list of the birds they’ve seen that year and a life list that compiles birds over the years to track how many species you’ve seen. Birding is like a year-long scavenger hunt that starts over again the next year.

On the Merlin app, you can also log the birds you see, and it creates your lists for you. I love to be able to check my lists after a bird outing. Last year, in 9 months, we saw 106 different species. This year, in just over three months, we’ve seen more than that already. Our goal for 2021 is 200 species, but I think (hope?) we’ll go way past that.

We started out with success locally in two areas–the Clarkesville Greenway and Smithgall State Park. At Smithgall, walk on the asphalt road that is closed to traffic to the wetland area. Both areas have water birds, migrating birds, and permanent birds.

I’ll leave you with one warning: Birding is habit-forming and life-transforming. Proceed with caution!