Birder

A Personal Story

I began my journey from a novice birder to a skilled seasoned birder in the spring of 2006. I had retired six months earlier and while visiting a nature center had learned of a field trip to observe birds. Because I enjoyed photographing nature, I signed up and received directions on how to meet up with the group. Nothing was said about what to bring or what birds we were likely to see at this particular habitat. When I arrived, I had my camera and my excitement about this new adventure. The field trip leader (evidently assuming I was a seasoned birder because of my age) asked: "Where are your binoculars?" I replied: "Oh, I don't need binoculars I have a 12x optical zoom camera and am here to take photos." By the end of the field trip the group, all of whom had binoculars with them, had seen 40 species of birds while I'd seen less than half of them. And as for the photographs, I had only four and none of a good quality.

I returned to the nature center and discussed my experience with one of the Audubon volunteers there. That's when I learned about where to find and how to select a good quality pair of binoculars that were appropriate for bird watching (click here to see criteria for selection). They also showed me several field guides useful in identifying birds as well as a general guide to birding such as Pete Dunne on Bird Watching and Sibley's Birding Basics. That's also where I learned about opportunities to use my retired talents and skills for the benefit of that nature center.

After numerous field trips in the US and Costa Rica, journaling, reading books, attending workshops and conferences, viewing videotapes, audiotapes, and CD's, and talking with staff and volunteers at Audubon centers, I have moved from the novice stage to intermediate birder stage. Below are some of my observations about the differences between a new birder and a seasoned one and ways to improve the journey between the two.

New Birder

Begin in your own back yard

Listen to the birds as you awake

Sit by a picture window or on a porch, patio, or balcony very still and observe

birds foraging for food in the yard, trees, or at bird feeders
birds hanging together but looking slightly different (one less colorful than the other)
birds alarmed over a possible predator
birds making out
bird nests in trees or on the ground
birds losing feathers due to molting

Walk slowly around your neighborhood and note where the birds are an hour after sunrise and around sunset

Purchase binoculars and practice using them in your own yard first

Purchase a field guide and look up birds you do not know

Practice describing what you are seeing. Start with general shape and size as compared to a very common bird such as a Robin. Then think of unique field marks (e.g., white eye ring) and unique behaviors (e.g., tail pumping).

Think about how to describe a particular bird's location

In the oak tree
At the edge of the garden
On the telephone wire
On the swimming pool's fence

Get even more specific using the features of a clock face

Noon position
One o'clock position
Three o'clock position
Nine o'clock position

Join other birders on field trips

Note how they are dressed
Note what tools they use for locating a bird and identifying it
Note how they locate birds and share that information

Seasoned Birder

Wears subdued, quiet clothing appropriate to expected weather
Knows which birds are common to a given habitat
Understands bird behaviors
Recognizes birds by sight, voice, tracks, pellets, droppings, nests, feathers, and/or changes they've made to their habitat
Are likely to keep lists of birds seen by site, country, and/or year as well as a life list of birds seen or heard in the wild
Knows how to interpret weather conditions for maximizing birding
Checks, and contributes to, rare bird alerts and then travels to see those rare birds
Knows migratory patterns and obstacles birds face during migration
Knows the history of birding
Participates in teams in the World Series of Birding fund raiser
Participates in bird counts to document changes in bird populations in a given area
Works to protect bird habitats
Continually learns from books, audiovisual aids, and other seasoned birders.

Helping New Birders

If you have an old or extra pair of binoculars, bring them to share on your next group birding field trip
Advise new birders to stand by you and look in the direction you are to find the bird you have located

Then provide them clock face information to aid in locating the bird

If you must reference a particular tree by species (where a bird is located), also describe how that tree differs from nearby ones

Keep in mind that there are over 400 birds in one region to learn much less learning the names of all the trees, shrubs, and grasses

Keep the use of Ipods of bird calls to a minimum so they can tune their ears to the natural environment first

If you are the guide for a field trip, provide information ahead of time on the habitat and the birds likely to be there.

On the field trip mention the kind of weather you are experiencing that day and how it affects birds in the area

Also point out tracks, droppings, pellets, and other signs a particular bird species is nearby