RECREATIONAL BIRDING RESOURCES

Click here to access an excellent birding resource

Choosing the Right Binoculars

Binoculars vary in price and in features. A beginning birder need not spend a lot of money on intricate binoculars. Inexpensive binoculars often have Porro prisms. These binoculars can be somewhat bulky, but they focus quickly. Roof prism binoculars are more expensive than Porro prisms, but they often provide an easier handling experience with better magnification.

• Choosing Binoculars for Birding (PDF): Binoculars have various features for effective bird-watching, including their power, field of view, and how they focus.
• Advice on Choosing Birding Optics (PDF): Birders often use optics to give them a close view of birds. A heavier pair of binoculars may be beneficial because it is easier to hold them steady while using them.
• How to Choose and Use Birding Optics (PDF): Active bird-watchers often use both a spotting scope for long-range viewing and binoculars for closer viewing.
• Optics for Birding: The Basics (PDF): Typical binoculars utilize both lenses and roof or Porro prisms for magnification.
• Binos for Birders (PDF): Experts recommend that birders test binoculars before purchasing because optics must fit the user’s needs perfectly.
• Binoculars and Telescopes for Bird-Watchers (PDF): Binoculars have two specifications: magnification and diameter of the object lens.

Finding the Birds

The extensive prevalence of birds is the main reason that so many people can participate in this hobby. Birds can live in abundance in backyards, around home plumbing companies and other commercial businesses, and in parks. Anyone with a backyard can work to attract birds for observation. A few feeders stocked with the foods that local birds eat should lure feathered friends. It’s also possible to visit natural areas such as parks and wildlife refuges to observe birds in their natural habitats.

• One of the Nation’s Ideal Bird-Watching Places (PDF): The National Audubon Association has designated Cuyahoga Valley National Park as an Important Bird Area, which means that people might do well to visit this location to observe birds.
• Bird-Watching Basics (PDF): Beginner birders use field guides to find and identify different birds.
• Bird-Watching Resource Guide (PDF): Timing is key to finding birds. Songbirds are generally most active during the early morning and late afternoon hours.
• Binoculars and Bird-Watching (PDF): Watching carefully and listening are important for finding birds. Often, you will hear bird sounds before you see birds.
• Birding Basics (PDF): Visiting a wildlife refuge can be an ideal way to find birds. These areas provide habitats for birds that include space, shelter, food, and water.
• Introduction to Bird-Watching (PDF): It’s possible to find birds to watch virtually anywhere, including your backyard, in your neighborhood, and in parks and natural areas.

The Best Time to Bird-Watch

Birds tend to be the most active during the transitional periods of the day. Some birds are active during the day, while others are nocturnal. Both types of birds usually become active when the sun is coming up or going down. During hot weather, birds are inactive during the hottest periods of the day.

• Get Started Bird-Watching (PDF): Early morning between the time the sun rises and mid-morning is often the time of the day when birds are most active.
• Iowa Nature Mapping: Most birds are most active at dawn and dusk, so these times are the best ones for bird-watching.
• Wisconsin’s Beautiful Birds: The transitional times of the day, when the sun is going up or coming down, are the most active times for various kinds of birds.
• Non-Game Birds (PDF): Different kinds of birds will be more active at various times. For example, robins eat earthworms, so they typically come out after a rain to find worms.
• Helpful Bird-Watching Tips (PDF): Songbirds are often most active with the most calling in the early morning hours.
• Bird-Watching Guidelines (PDF): Birds are often less active during the heat of the day.

Bird Identification

Learning to identify birds takes time and practice. A field guide that includes all birds local to your area will help with bird identification. The field guide will contain information about size, coloring, patterns, beaks, feet, behavior, and diet. Successful bird identification also takes patience because birds can be challenging to observe. Binoculars and a camera can assist with identification as well.

• Basics of Birding: An Introduction to Bird Identification (PDF): Birders use various criteria to identify birds, including size, shape, patterning, color, behavior, and habitat.
• Bird ID Experts (PDF): People can have difficulty identifying birds in the wild because the birds may camouflage themselves and they often move quickly.
• Beginning Birder’s Guide (PDF): Field guides provide comprehensive descriptions of various birds to help birders identify the birds they see.
• Bird Checklist (PDF): Watching birds intently will often help birders identify them. Characteristics that help with identification include bill shape, size, and location.
• I Think it Is a … (PDF): The sounds birds make can help with identification. Birds have specific songs that they use to attract mates, and they use call notes to communicate with each other.
• Wild About Birds (PDF): Watching to see what a bird does and how it behaves helps you identify it.

Birding Ethics

While observing birds is a popular hobby, birders must abide by standard birding ethics. The premise of these guidelines is to avoid harming or impacting birds in any way as a result of bird-watching. Birders should not engage in activities that causes stress or anxiety for birds. Birders should endeavor to leave no trace of their presence in bird habitats.

• ABA Code of Ethics (PDF): Birders should try not to disturb or upset birds when watching them.
• Code of Birding Ethics (PDF): Proper birding etiquette includes limiting the use of recordings to attract birds.
• The Complete List of Ethical Birding Guidelines (PDF): Keeping birds safe is one of the main tenets of ethical birding.
• Code of Birding Ethics (PDF): Nothing you do when observing birds should disturb or impact them.
• Birding Guide to Ashland and the Greater Rogue Valley (PDF): People watching birds have an important role in bird conservation because birders could have a negative impact on bird habitats.
• Birding and Wildlife Guide (PDF): Birding ethics involve staying away from nests and other habitats to avoid disturbing birds and altering their behavior.

Birding Clubs

Veteran and beginning bird watchers can benefit from joining birding clubs. Birding clubs often schedule field trips for members to visit habitats. Birding clubs usually have meetings for members to gather and share tips and information about bird-watching. By joining a local birding club, you can learn about the native birds that live in your local area.

• Birding in Texas (PDF): Anyone living in Texas has numerous options for birding clubs that will offer support and information.
• Birdfreak Guide for Teen Birders (PDF): Teenagers who want to join a birding club might choose the Birdfreak Club.
• How to Start a New Club: Birding clubs are located throughout the country. Birders might even want to start their own local club.
• Go Birding With a Pal From Around the World: Search for a birding buddy located virtually anywhere on Earth with the tools available on this website.
• Bird-Watching: Joining a birding club has many advantages, including scheduled field trips for members to visit natural areas to watch birds.
• Binoculars and Beyond: Nine Tips for Beginning Bird-Watchers: Making connections with other birders in a birding club can be an excellent way to learn about this hobby.

Other Bird-Watching Tips

• Introduction to Bird IDing (PDF): Setting up bird feeders in your backyard is an effective way to attract birds for observing.
• Bird Feeding: Tips for Beginners and Veterans (PDF): Different bird species eat specific foods. Different birds also prefer specific types of bird feeders.
• Birding Tips (PDF): For optimal bird attraction, choose a variety of feeders. Place the feeders in areas with adequate cover, and keep them stocked with food.
• The Basics of Birding (PDF): A field guide and a pair of binoculars is all you will need to begin birding.