Beginning birding and how should I start?-A Bird Watching Guide

Birding is a pastime enjoyed by millions and for very good reasons….

A.  Its simple to learn.  You can start from your own backyard feeders or the local city park.

B.  There are always new birds to find and see or hear.  Most bird watchers start off simple and build up to the more elusive species.  Before you know it,  you will be planning your next vacation around some new and unique specie to add to your life list.

C.  Please don't forget the most important reason most people take up bird watching.  The sheer beauty of the creatures.  The brilliant red of a Cardinal, the bold yellow and black markings on a Goldfinch or the majesty of a pearl white Mute Swan can give you more than enough reasons to take up this pastime.  But what would an early morning hike be like without the flute-like song of a Wood Thrush. . . or how about an early spring morning without the "cheerily, cheerily, cheerily" of an American Robin.  The laughing hoot of a Barred Owl can make an Autumn camping trip an exciting adventure.

These are just a few of the reasons to take up this fun and exciting pastime the whole family can enjoy.  Some of the biggest questions that always seemed to get asked are: "I really don't know much about birding and I am not sure how to get started"  or "Is it expensive and what do I need to get started?"

Let's start with the equipment:

To get started in birding you will need a couple of items at least.  A pair of binoculars and field guide for the area you are birding.

Binoculars and Spotting Scopes

Finding and picking the best binoculars is really not difficult.  However, it will probably be your biggest expense, so it is worth the time to do a little research and get the best pair for you.  In the case of binoculars for birding, bigger is not always better.

Binocular come in many sizes. . .

Binoculars sizes are expressed with two numbers such as 7x35, 8x20 or 10x50 to give you a few examples.  The first number is the power or magnification and the second number is the aperture of the object (front) lens of the binocular.  This is expressed in millimeters and gives you the ability to gather more or less light into the binoculars.  The larger the diameter the more light they will allow into your eyes.  However, the more light you let in, the heavier the binoculars.

Binoculars come in two types. . .

Porro-Prism binoculars contain two right angle prisms that are off-set from each other which requires the objective lenses are spaced farther apart from each other.  This makes for a somewhat bulkier binocular.  However, porro-prism binoculars do tend to give a better 3-dimensional view and brighter view most of the time.

Roof-Prism binoculars closely overlap the prisms one above the other to give a much more streamlined and compact binocular.  The result is a much more streamlined and compact binocular that is much easier to carry and use (many can fit right in your pocket).  Because of their design they do tend to cost a little more. They also lose a little light due to their compact design.

The choice is up to you.  But when it comes to quality remember the old saying- you get what you pay for  and this holds true for binoculars as well.  Most birders do not go with a strong magnification due to the fact that this can be a real disadvantage when it comes to picking out birds in a forest or brushy situation.  The extra magnification can actually get in your way when trying to pick out small birds.  An ideal size for most birders is around 7x35 or 8x20. But please try a few different sizes and find what is most comfortable for your eyes.  Many birders have a pair of Porro-prism for hiking and general bird watching and a set of roof-prism for the car.

Three quick rules for using your binoculars are:

1.  Keep your eyes on the subject and bring the binoculars up to your eyes.

2.  Wear your glasses when using your binoculars (if appropriate)

3.  Practice ahead of time before heading out.  This will help avoid   frustration later.

Spotting scopes are another expense a birder may wish to make an investment for bird watching.  Spotting scopes are a wonderful asset for longer-distance watching because you can keep them stationary with their tripod. This is  especially useful if you are watching a nest (we never want to disturb nesting birds) or watching birds over a lake or marsh.

Spotting scopes used for birding are the smaller cousins of the astronomical telescopes used for looking into space.  Spotting scopes have more light-gathering ability and often  have more magnification than binoculars. But they obviously are heavier to lug around the trails and also carry a heftier price tag.  These scopes come with both fixed magnification and eyepieces that allow users to adjust to different magnifications.  The choice is really up to the birder. So again, try different scopes until you find the one right for you. 

Just a quick word about tripods.  In the case of larger scopes heavier tripods are obviously better to give you a more stable image.  Watch out for "cheaper" scopes! Those inexpensive, economical scopes are often manufactured by cutting back on the tripod stability.

A Bird Watcher's Guide-Field Guides, Bird Calls and Checklist

There are many different guides on the market and many of them will work fine for the beginning birder.  Some things to look for in a guide are clear drawings or pictures with key identifying marks pointed out on the birds.  This is very important since it is how you will quickly discern between similar species.  Also, the books should have silhouettes of the different groups of birds-something every birder should become familiar with to help identify species from a distance. Another good quality you should look for in a book are range maps with migration patterns so you are not looking in the wrong place at the wrong time for individual species.

Many field guides have the call pattern written out along with a description that will help you remember the individual bird call such as the Barred Owl says, "Who cooks for you..who cooks for ya'll".  Use these call patterns- they can actually help you remember. 

There are many audio tools on the market that can help you learn the calls of may birds which is often the only way to identify many species.  Especially here in the forested Hocking region where many small warblers or gnatcatchers can hide high in the canopy but have a LOUD call.  Practicing with tapes or CD's before you leave on your trip is a good idea. However, you can carry the calls right along with you thanks to MP3 players and "Identifliers" which give the ability to match a picture of the bird and press a button to hear the call.      

Many field guides provide a checklist in the back of the guide which can be a great way to start your life-list if you choose.  But a good checklist of the area you visit can be a great asset and help you locate some of the more elusive species in an area.  You can download and print a great checklist for the Hocking Valley Birding Trail right here on our website or pick one up as you come into the area at any one of the 20 stops along the trail.  As you arrive in the area check the bulletin boards with the HVBT logo for the latest bird trail information.

Above all, take the time to read through your guides and checklist.  They have a lot of good information and you will need to know your way around your guide to use it effectively.

Getting to Know Your Birds

The more birding you do, the better you will get at finding the harder species.  Here are some tips that might help you get started:

A.  Birds, like people, prefer different places to live so take a moment and match your surroundings to the birds preferring a particular habitat.  Also remember different birds may live in different areas of the same habitat.  In a forest some birds live on the ground while other prefer the tree tops.   

B.  Most birds have a specific time of day they are most active.  Warblers usually sing in the morning while  raptors wait until later in the morning to start their day. Woodcocks display in the early spring over an open field right at dusk.

C.  Be aware even the best birders are always learning.  Get involved with a local conservation effort at a park or wildlife area.  Attend bird walks and talks.  Or join a local birding group.  You can find out more on our Birding Events and Conservation page. 

But above all just have fun!!

Checklist of Bird Watching Items Worth Collecting:

Bird Field Guides

Binoculars

Spotting Scope

Bird Calls

Checklist

Identiflier

Commonly Used Field Guides Birders Prefer :

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds

Audubon Field Guide to Birds (East And West Version)

Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds