A beginners guide to bird watching can help a person with some basic ideas from the scratch. Bird watching is a great act to live in the harmony of nature. This behavior can be difficult in and of itself, as it can be difficult to recognize birds when they are in a high location, such as in trees, telegraph poles, or buildings. This article will share a beginners guide to bird watching.
As birds are incredibly busy creatures, you’ll need a quick, keen eye to take in every detail in a short amount of time – which is all part of the fun!
Aside from the distance and size of (most of) our birds, diffused illumination created by foliage and branches can make it difficult to notice crucial traits and habits – especially if you’re a novice birder. Direct sunlight, or simply a brilliant sky on a sunny day, might make it more difficult, not to mention the quiet nooks and crannies where birds like to play.
So, if you enjoy bird watching, it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of bird behavior and to keep a careful eye on them. You may find it difficult to name them accurately the first time, but if you pay close attention to the relevant details while viewing them, you will be able to do it fast.
A beginners guide to bird watching
Here are a few pointers that can come in handy on your first birding trip:
1. Choose and concentrate
Choose and concentrate on only one bird at a time. If you use binoculars, bird viewing becomes a lot simpler.
Don’t allow your bird out of your sight for even a second after you’ve found it! Because it may travel and change course in a split second, settling somewhere difficult to discover and watch.
2. Recognize your first bird
Beginners are given a ‘field guide,’ which is a leaflet or booklet that may be used to identify the species they have observed, at many bird watching establishments.
The thrill of successfully recognizing your first bird is enough to make you want to come back for more.
3. Observe common traits, color, and behavior
Once you’ve figured out who it is, take close attention to its physical characteristics, as well as its habits and actions. Pay great attention to the bird’s markings, movements, eating habits, songs, size, and color so you can recognize it the next time you encounter it.
4. Train your senses
Try to train your ear to the pattern of the bird’s song and calls. Although it is an easy chore to listen to a bird sing, you will discover that it does not stick in your mind for long.
The greatest thing to do is to sing along with the music. Pay close attention to the bird cry or song and sing it over and over in your brain. Correct recognition of a bird’s cry or song is crucial since it teaches you to recognize the bird even if you don’t see it.
5. Narrow down family and species
Consider the form and size of the bird. Knowing the typical form and size of a bird will help you narrow down the family from which this species originated.
When birding, it’s a good idea to evaluate the bird’s general look and make mental notes on its size and form. You’ve done really well if you can figure out what species of bird it is based on its size and form.
6. Explore distinguishing characteristics
The bird’s bill, face markings, beaks, and traits are essential ‘tells,’ and once you’ve mastered them, it’ll be as simple as recognizing your friends or relatives.
However, learning this approach may be more difficult than you think, because most birds are little and seldom remain still, making it difficult to notice any distinguishing characteristics, including what fruits do birds eat.
It also takes discipline to pay attention to the bill features of a bird because most birds spend much of their time pecking or checking (being aware of their surroundings).
7. Apply the best approach
Focusing on a bird that doesn’t fly about too much is the best approach to see these qualities.
Once you’ve found one, examine it thoroughly, looking for unique markings, spots, or color stripes.
These may be found in their eye lines, crowns, napes, and arcs, as well as in their rings.