Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States, and may soon eclipse golfing as the nation’s most favored pastime and recreational activity. You have joined the ranks of over 46 million people, who find nature and the marvelous world of birds to be a captivating hobby. The suggestions provided below are just some of the things you can do to become a successful and proficient “birder.” Good luck!
|
Equipment
The first thing to do is to purchase some simple items that are the basic tools you need to begin birding. They include binoculars, a field guide, and a checklist. Deciding which binoculars are right for you, at first, may seem confusing. So we will assist you in your decision-making process. Binoculars are available in many brands and different powers (levels of magnification), and most importantly, prices! One can spend $75.00 to $2,000.00 on binoculars. To simplify matters for you, we make the following recommendations. First, decide what your budget is. Low-end binoculars will be functional, but will lack clarity, color, brightness, resolution, and durability over the medium to high end products. However, they may be just right for you as a beginner, so don’t count them out immediately. |
|
Binoculars must be comfortable for you when using them, so if you have small hands, look for smaller, lighter weight models, as opposed to buying the “big boys.” We recommend 7X to 10X power binoculars, with armor coating. We do not recommend “mini” binoculars that are used for operas and horse racing. They are not appropriate for birding, and constant use will result in poor views and eyestrain. We also recommend not using your grandfather’s relic binoculars that he used when he served in the Navy in WWII, that have been sitting in your attic for decades. They are a family keepsake, but not useful for birding.
A telescope can be very useful tool for observing distant, stationary birds such as shorebirds, ducks, and hawks. Most binoculars and scopes on the market today, are geared towards birding, and are pretty good, even at the low-end.
A telescope can be very useful tool for observing distant, stationary birds such as shorebirds, ducks, and hawks. Most binoculars and scopes on the market today, are geared towards birding, and are pretty good, even at the low-end.
|
Field Guides
There are many field guides on the market right now. Your first guide should be one geared towards the beginner. Traditionally the American birders first guide is Petersen’s Field Guide to the Birds, Eastern Edition. You may also want to look at the Stokes guides and the National Geographic guide. The National Geographic guide and the newly released Sibley Guide to Birds are written with the assumption that the reader has the basic knowledge of birds as a foundation. Nonetheless, they are all worth having in your library, especially the Sibley guide. A guide on where to find birds, also known as a “bird finding guide,” can also be of great help to you. If you prefer to use a mobile app, we recommend reading "The Best Birding Apps and Field Guides". |
|
Checklists and Diaries
Checklists are a very important item for you to have. A checklist of your local birds will give you an immediate and easy reference to what you expect in your area. This will let you narrow down the possibilities when you are identifying a bird in your local park. When visiting the North Huron Birding Trail, be sure to download our Trail Map and Birding Checklist. A birding diary or journal is an important item to have and use. You will find that once you start identifying birds, whether it is in your backyard, down the road, or on another continent, you will want to refer back at some point to see when you saw your first Magnolia Warbler and where it was. A birding journal or diary will assist you in keeping your notes, thoughts, and personal birding experiences well documented. |
|
Clubs and Associations
Joining an Audubon Chapter or birding club will open up many new doors to you as a beginning birder. Many Audubon Society chapters offer informative monthly programs and several field trips to destinations that you otherwise may not know about. Field trips are planned and led by veteran birders, who cater to beginning to advanced birders. To find an Audubon Society chapter near you, visit https://www.audubon.org/audubon-near-you
Subscriptions to magazines will keep you informed with timely information, too. For the beginner, we recommend Birdwatcher’s Digest. If you feel up to the challenge, why not subscribe to Birding magazine published by the American Birding Association? Initially, you may feel like the content is over your head, but before long, you will appreciate the quality of this national birdwatching publication.
Joining an Audubon Chapter or birding club will open up many new doors to you as a beginning birder. Many Audubon Society chapters offer informative monthly programs and several field trips to destinations that you otherwise may not know about. Field trips are planned and led by veteran birders, who cater to beginning to advanced birders. To find an Audubon Society chapter near you, visit https://www.audubon.org/audubon-near-you
Subscriptions to magazines will keep you informed with timely information, too. For the beginner, we recommend Birdwatcher’s Digest. If you feel up to the challenge, why not subscribe to Birding magazine published by the American Birding Association? Initially, you may feel like the content is over your head, but before long, you will appreciate the quality of this national birdwatching publication.
Additional items to bring along when birding
Solitude and patience. Birds are sensitive and cautious creatures. Noise such as loud chatter will keep them away. They will soon come into view if you sit quietly for a while and wait for them in an unobtrusive manner and if you are more or less out of sight. Wear sturdy shoes, a windbreaker, and depending on the length of your excursion some provisions and drinking water. Before you leave for another area, take a short look around the place to make sure you left none of your belongings and gear behind.
|
American Birding Association
Code of Ethics Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first. 1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment. 1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat. 1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming. Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area; Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover. Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups. |
|
1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).
4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.
Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others
The American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics may be freely reproduced for distribution/dissemination. Please acknowledge the role of ABA in developing and promoting this code with a link to the ABA website using the url http://www.aba.org. Thank you.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).
4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.
Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others
The American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics may be freely reproduced for distribution/dissemination. Please acknowledge the role of ABA in developing and promoting this code with a link to the ABA website using the url http://www.aba.org. Thank you.