When we think about birding we think about those old people that set out bird feeders and watch the birds from their window. We only think of the typical backyard birds. But what if I told you that birds are so much more than that?
I thought the same things six years ago. I was taking a zoology class at my high school (yes, my high school was that cool) when I took a birds unit. I thought this was going to be nothing to this with knowing the typical birds like cardinals and blue jays, and knowing a few warblers. I was so wrong. There are SOOOO many bird species on this earth. Birds are such complex creatures as I learned in that class and in my college ornithology class. That is what sparked years of traveling to see birds, and a lot of accidental bird butt pictures.
After birding for six years I have a life list of high 300s to low 400s. I even have a bird bucket list of all the birds I would like to eventually travel and see some day. At this point you are probably asking, but Mads why would I even want to look at birds on my walk out in the great outdoors? Here are some reasons for you to maybe start looking out for birds:
Reason #1: Birds are one of the most seen creatures in the day time. A lot of our mammals friends are nocturnal (especially in other countries), where as, most bird species are diurnal. Every place I've traveled to I have seen many bird species even just watching out a car window. You can look out a window, walk outside, or even just peer out of a tent to see birds. For example, I saw a vermilion flycatcher out the van window in Belize. I got a great close up of a common yellow-throat on Rabbit Island in the Ten Thousand Islands in Florida just by sitting outside the tent. I saw a Clark's Nutcracker just stopping to take pictures on the side of a mountain in Montana.
Reason #2: There is so many varieties of bird species it's hard to see them all in your lifetime. There are warblers, owls, raptors, mimics, nighthawks, etc. The list goes on! As I have mentioned before my life list is about high 300s low 400s. I have seen so many different birds from a dark eyed junco to the blue crowned mot mots in Belize. I go looking for some of these bird species, yes, but some were just accidental.
Reason #3: Birds are just very aesthetically pleasing. They are all colors of the rainbow, some even having an iridescence to their feathers (even the common grackle has iridescence to them). The patterns, the shapes of feathers, the way the colors blend are all a work of art. Some artists get inspiration just by looking at these creatures.
I could go on and on about why you should go look at birds, but you would be reading a novel at that point. Now that I have convinced you, hopefully, to go birding I need to cover some tips to get those beautiful pictures, and see some amazing species. What you will need to bring on your bird adventures is your camera and/or a pair of binoculars. Those binoculars don't have to be the most fanciest things on the market I have a pair of $20 Bushnell's and they do just fine. If some one you know happens to have a spotting scope that can come in handy, but you don't have to have one.
One of the most important things you need to bring with you on your voyages is a trusty bird book. Peterson, Stokes, and National Geographic are just some that I own, but there are so many options. If you don't want to pack a heavy bird book there are other options like pocket bird guides or apps. Yes, there is a app for that. Peterson has an app that costs money, but Cornell University came out with a free app called Merlin Bird ID. I've been using it for two years now and I absolutely love it. You can use it even in the most remote parts of the world. Now that you have your equipment let's proceed to some tips.
Tip #1: Research. Even as a seasoned birder I still research where I can find different bird species. Forums are great for this, and there are even some groups on Facebook of birders in your local area that post all the time about bird species in the area. Also just look up different websites like your state Division of Wildlife sometimes they give you ideas as to where to find birds, and a list to be able to keep track of how many birds you've seen.
Getting an understanding of bird calls is also helpful because sometimes you will hear the bird and not see it (and that counts toward your bird list!). Get a good memory of what birds as well so you don't misidentify words by accident. This helps me so when I may just get a glimpse of a bird I have an idea of what species to look up. Don't feel bad if you do misidentify, I've even done it recently because some birds can look so much alike. That's where you just need to pay attention to details. Sometimes the littlest of details will help identify.
A good website to study sounds and visuals is allaboutbirds.org. Cornell University just came out with a "bird academy" on the website that has games and quizzes to help you learn all your basic birds. There is a search index where you can look up bird species as well, learn more about the species, and even see when they may be in your area.
Tip #2: This is for all you camera enthusiasts. Make sure you have your camera on high shutter speed, or on sports mode because birds are fast. I'm not kidding you want to know why I have a lot of accidental bird butt pictures it's for this reason. Birds are flighty creatures, which can show when taking pictures of them. Having your camera on a fast shutter speed will give you ample opportunity to get those perfect pictures without the hassle of blurriness. However, with fast shutter speed I have found that it causes your pictures to be darker. This is where sports mode is usually my first option to use. The shutter speed is still fast, but I have found that the pictures don't come out blurry. Now this isn't a fool proof tip because I have some blurry pictures here and there, but it will save you a lot of time and I promise good pictures will come.
Another thing to think about is that the big lens are your friend when taking bird pictures. nine times out of ten birds are going to be a little too far for your 15mm-50mm camera lens to pick up. Right now I'm working with a 50mm-210mm lens and it has been getting the job done. I used to work with a 70mm-300mm lens, which was perfect as well. Now I'm not saying go out and buy a new lens, just be mindful that sometimes birds are not going to be next to you and that is when incredible zoom comes in handy.
Tip #3: Just get involved whether it be a local Audubon Society chapter, or a local event. I have made it a tradition to go to Magee Marsh here in Ohio every year in May. Why you ask? It's because the biggest birding week in North America is hosted there every first week in May. This is due to a big fall out of migratory before they cross Lake Erie to Canada. People from all over the states and all over the world come to this event.
It doesn't even have to be a big event that you go to for the first time. Every year the Great Mohican Audubon Society holds a Bobolink festival at a place called Byers Woods. It's is where members of the Audubon Society teach the public about bobolinks and other birds through educational programs, and guided hikes. There is also local vendors, and food. It's a good time.
Now that you have been given the tips and reasons as to why to be a bird nerd, I hope you venture into the great outdoors and go birding for a day. I encourage you to just try it for a day and see how you like. Look up some birds, and bird facts. You might surprise yourself and become a bird nerd like me. As for now I will leave you with these pictures of birds that I have been able to take with my cameras in the last three years. I will also set up an album in the gallery of pictures of birds that just didn't make it on this post.
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