Bird Watching
Birdwatching is a hobby that has been around for centuries and continues to be enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. More than just a pastime, birdwatching is an opportunity to learn more about the natural world around us.
Birdwatchers of all ages can find something interesting in their pursuit- from learning how different species of birds interact with one another, to understanding why they might migrate based on weather patterns.
And it’s not just adults who enjoy this hobby! There are plenty of ways for children and young teens to get involved as well- whether through making feeders at home or going out into their own backyard with binoculars in hand. Birdwatching offers a chance for everyone to learn about nature while also strengthening observation skills.
One of the best things about birdwatching is how little it costs, especially when compared to other hobbies. All you really need are binoculars and some sort of tracking device (many websites offer free apps that do the job wonderfully).
Anyone looking to learn more about nature should consider giving birdwatching ago – after all, there’s no better way to learn new things than by doing them yourself!
Benefits of Bird Watching as a Hobby
Learn more about the world around you
One of the best things about birdwatching is how little it costs, especially when compared to other hobbies. All you really need are binoculars and some sort of tracking device (many websites offer free apps that do the job wonderfully).
Anyone looking to learn more about nature should consider giving birdwatching a go – after all, there’s no better way to learn new things than by doing them yourself!
Great for children and adults
Bird watching is a fun hobby for children and teens. You can take your friends to go birdwatch with you. The best part is that it does not cost much, so anyone can do it!
Even seniors can enjoy bird watching. Many senior centers offer trips to bird watch, so it can be an activity to relieve stress and have fun together at the same time!
Teens can also learn valuable skills from this hobby, such as the observation that will help them in school.
A low-cost hobby
It doesn’t require a lot of money to take up bird watching. All you’ll need is a pair of binoculars and some maps for your location. And if you’re looking for an even cheaper option, simply download a free app that will let you track birds in real-time!
Birdwatching can be such a great hobby because it doesn’t require much- just some patience, a pair of binoculars, and the will to learn!
How to Get Started with Bird Watching
Start from local areas
You can start your journey by going to a local park and looking up in the trees.
Use a good pair of binoculars, which will give you a closer look at birds in their natural environment. To improve your viewing experience, it’s best to go with an 8x magnification power or more.
If you want to try something other than using binoculars, consider buying yourself a spotting scope instead which uses mirrors to magnify far away objects. You should also invest in high-quality optics since they are not only durable but also produce very clear images that are pleasing to the eye.
Take note of what you see
Where was the bird? What shape was it? What color was it? Write down your observations, as this will help you learn more about the birds you observe.
The easiest way to start bird watching is by going with a group of people who have been doing it for a while. This gives beginners an opportunity to meet new people and talk about their experiences! It also helps them connect with other bird watchers in their area.
You could even start a Facebook account to find a local “birding” community to join- there’s sure to be one near where you live!
Learn from those who know
Go with seasoned bird watchers to see how they work and discover what makes this hobby so much fun!
Find like-minded friends by joining (or creating) a Facebook group for local bird-watching enthusiasts. Or, if you’d rather go it alone, start making friends with the birds yourself! They can be very tame and will keep you company as you learn about them.
If you’re interested in finding people to go birdwatching with, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are tons of online communities that would love to meet new members and offer their expertise!
Watch Tutorials
Learn how to start this hobby by reading books or watching tutorials online. You could even take a class- many community colleges offer courses on learning the ropes of birding!
For more information on different types of equipment, check out what other experts have to say. Find out which one works best for specific activities (for example, spotting scopes work best for bird watching at the park) and compare different models.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
That’s what experts are here for! They can help you learn the ropes of this hobby by telling you about their experiences. With enough dedication, you’ll be on your way to becoming an expert yourself in no time!
Common Birdwatching Terms
Burndown: the act of counting how many birds one has seen at a birding location.
Big Day: the pursuit to see as many species of birds in 24-hours as possible, usually achieved by traveling great distances or going to multiple locations.
Cosmic: when two people who have not met before are looking for different types of birds and somehow end up in the same place at the same time.
Crippler: a bird that is hard to find, or one which has only been seen once. It can be a rare or beautiful bird that leaves you in shock.
Duff gen: Finding rare birds, or determining areas where the animals occur.
Glimps: a quick glimpse at an out-of-the way bird from afar (often seen as they fly overhead). It often goes unnoticed by serious birders who are looking for other types of species, but it might be one that has been sought after for years! A few minutes later when you look back up to where it was flying before, you cannot find any trace of it. Glimpses must always be reported because sometimes these sightings end up being new species to the global birding community!
Gripping off: a word used by birdwatchers when they have not seen any birds for days, weeks, or months. They are gripped with anticipation and anxiety because their skills are diminishing (often due to lack of practice). This is also known as “grip.”
Lifer : First-time sightings of a bird species.
Mega : Mega describes a very rare bird in any area, one that you’ve always been dreaming to see.
Nemesis bird: A rare/vagrant migrant that you have been looking for and cannot find anywhere. This is also known as the “one that got away.”
Patagonia Picnic Table Effect: This is a phenomenon that happens when a single rare bird can cause a spike in the number of species discovered within an area.
Peeps: The sound made by shorebirds pecking on small invertebrates (often found at mudflats).This word can be used to describe any number of other sounds made by birds! Used as a noun, it often refers to the type of food eaten during winter months, such as bayberries.
Pish: The sound often made by flocks of birds flying overhead, or a high-pitched call that is used in courtship rituals and territorial aggression to defend territory.
Skulker: A bird that hides from view but can’t be seen for very long due to its camouflage; also known as “skulk.”
Spark Bird: A species that trigger a lifelong passion for birding.
Stringer: A birder is an individual who aims to make rare bird sightings seem commonplace in the presence of his/her peers. These individuals are known as ‘stringers.’ Their goal? To draw attention and show their expertise among other avid bird watchers, by purposely inventing a sighting or inflating numbers on birds they have seen rather than just reporting them honestly.
Trash Bird: Any type of species which has been seen by many and is nothing new to anyone else who might have gone looking for one before! This term came about because these types of birds are usually found near garbage cans or landfills where no other ground-dwellers could survive (hence how they became associated with trash). It can also refer to any animal you find while cleaning up after others – this means they were touched by another human! You’re supposed to call them “trash,” so nobody will try to claim them as their own.
Twitcher: Someone who is always looking for a new species of bird and has the patience to wait around all day in hopes they might find one! This term can also be used to describe someone who spends an excessive amount of time on social media or constantly checks what others are up to online when it’s not necessary. Twitchers have many interests, but none more than birds because this is typically where most of their energy goes – you will only see them at bars with friends if there is a rare bird sighting nearby. They may sometimes get called “twits” by people who don’t understand how much work they put into finding these hidden gems (or hints) about the natural world every day through their research.
SOB (spouse of a birder): Someone who spends an immense amount of time with their significant other, and they are always looking for new birds to see together! They might not have much patience for anything else in life besides watching TV shows about different animal species or reading books about the natural world – but this is all necessary if you want to keep up with your spouse’s hobbies. It can be difficult when going on long trips without getting any alone-time from one another; some partners may even take breaks so they don’t get too bored/crazy during these periods. These couples often share birding stories that nobody will ever find interesting because it just doesn’t happen as frequently anymore (as we’re living in a time where there are more species of birds than ever before) and they’re always looking for new ones to see together!
Conclusion
Bird watching doesn’t require much- just some patience, a pair of binoculars, and the will to learn!
Start from local areas and take note of what you see. You can even start a Facebook account to find a local “birding” community! Watch tutorials and ask questions if you need more information on how to get started.
Learn from those who know by reading books or watching tutorials online. And if you’re looking for an even cheaper option, simply download a free app that will let you track birds in real-time! It doesn’t require a lot of money to take up bird watching. All you’ll need is some patience, a pair of binoculars, and the will to learn.
If you’re interested in finding people to go birdwatching with, don’t hesitate to reach out for help! You could even start your own Facebook group for local bird-watching enthusiasts. Don’t be afraid to ask questions- that’s what experts are here for!