Today's sunset is at 4:29 p.m. All preserves close at sunset.
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Today's sunset is at 4:29 p.m. All preserves close at sunset.
New to birding?
Here’s what you need to know to get started
| Story by Meghan McMahon |
1/8/2021
Birding is big business in the United States, and it's a hobby that saw a big boom during the COVID pandemic, when people were looking for new outdoor pursuits to fill their suddenly ample amounts of free time. For nature newbies, though, birding can be more than a little intimidating because, well, there are a lot of birds out there.
If you don't know much about the birds that populate our skies, forests, grasslands and shorelines, it's not a reason to be discouraged. Birding requires little more than an interest in observing the birds around you and learning about them and how to identify them. And you know what they say: The first step is the hardest step. Now that's you've taken that first step, here's some guidance to get your started on your birding journey.
Getting started
All you need to get started with birding is a field guide or a trusted app to help you identify the birds you see. A good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope will be helpful too, the National Park Service advises. Good guides for beginning birders organize birds by color, making it easier to narrow down the bird you saw. Several apps and websites also allow users to search for birds by color as well as size, location and where the bird was seen, such as in a tree, on the ground or at the water's edge.
Having a solid foundation of 10 birds you can identify is also helpful. Knowing 10 birds on sight — even the 10 most common birds — will make it easier for you to identify the birds you don't know yet. And that's where your field guide can come in handy.
While binoculars aren't essential for birding, especially if you're starting by observing the birds in your own yard, they are helpful to have. Not only will they help you see birds from farther away, they also make it easier to distinguish colors, patterns and markings.
You don't have to have a fancy, expensive pair of binoculars to get started. You can use what you have available. If they are an old pair that you have lying around the house, they will work. Use what you have to start. If you get into birding more and later want to find a pair that better suits your needs, check out The Audubon Guide to Binoculars for advice.
If you put a bird feeder or two in your backyard, all you need to start spotting visitors is a window to view them. Be patient if you don't have any visitors right away; it can take a few days for birds to find a new feeder, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
When starting out IDing birds, the National Audubon Society recommends considering four different factors in determining what birds you are seeing:
First, consider the bird's size and shape.
Next, look at the color.
Then, observe and take note of its behavior.
Finally, consider the type of habitat it is in.
Once you've noted all these factors, you can refer to your field guide or app to narrow down the possibilities.
If you're birding beyond your own backyard, location is key. The National Park Service suggests focusing on areas where birds have access to both water and food, whether it be feeders or natural sources. If you can find a place where two habitat areas meet — such as a forest edge along a meadow or where a stream flows into a river — that may increase your likelihood of seeing many species in one trip.
Ethical standards
Bird-watching and bird photography are guided by a set of ethical guidelines, and one key tenet of bird-watching is to always consider the birds' well-being first. Birders need to know how their behavior may affect the birds they are watching.
The National Audubon Society has published a Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography outlining how people should behave while birding or photographing birds. Essentially, always ensure you are not causing unnecessary disturbance to the birds.
One of the key principles of bird-watching ethics is that if your presence or approach causes a bird to fly away, referred to as flushing, or change its behavior, you are too close. You should also never approach birds with the intention of making them fly away, because this disturbs their natural processes and forces them to expend energy unnecessarily, according to the Audubon Society.
Interfering with birds is not just unethical, it may also be illegal. In the United States, migratory birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is one of the oldest wildlife protection laws in our nation's history. The purpose of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is to protect birds, nests and eggs from actions by people.
The act applies only to migratory birds, so not all species are protected. However, it does cover more than 1,000 bird species, from towering great blue herons to tiny ruby-throated hummingbirds. The law has been credited with saving several bird species from extinction, including sandhill cranes and wood ducks, the Audubon Society reports.
Get out there
Once you've begun to familiarize yourself with the birds in your area, you have to get outside and put your new knowledge to the test. To start with, you may see just common birds — species you are already familiar with — but you'll soon begin to see more birds in the background that you didn't notice before.
Beginners may want to consider signing up for a local birding hike, either through the Forest Preserve District or a local birding group. This will help you quicken the learning curve because you'll be birding with someone who knows what species you are likely to find — and look for. They can also pass along tips and tricks to boost your knowledge.
Attitude is everything
Just like the fish aren't always biting, the birds aren't always where you are when you head out for a birding trip.
Patience is key, and so is a positive attitude, the National Park Service advises.
New birders would do well to start by focusing on learning common birds first. This provides a good foundation and a reference point for expanding your knowledge.
If you're heading out to a preserve or park for your first birding outing, it may be useful to pick a species you want to find, the National Audubon Society advises. Use your field guide or app to find a bird that lives in the habitat you will be visiting at that time of year. The satisfaction of finding the bird you were seeking will motivate you to keep going with your new hobby.
But don't be discouraged if you don't find what you're looking for. Bird watching requires patience and, sometimes, more than a little luck. Even experienced birders strike out from time to time.
A social network
One of the beauties of birding is that it can be a social or solitary activity. If you're looking for a quiet way to spend time alone in nature, birding is a perfect choice. But it can also be a way to spend time with others who share your interests.
For newcomers to birding, the social aspect can create opportunities to learn about birds in your area, the Audubon Society advises. You can connect with other birders while out and about, but also through local Audubon Society chapters or online resources like eBird. And we've seen and heard about friendships forged over a common interest in birds and other wildlife through our Will County Wildlife Facebook group, where people are encouraged to share recent photos of the animals they have seen across Will County.
Nobody's perfect
When you're out on a birding adventure, it helps to remember that making mistakes identifying birds is part of birding. As you gain more experience, identifying birds will become easier, but some will still throw you for a loop. That's OK — it's part of the fun and challenge of birding as a hobby.
The Compass is full of District news and general interest nature stories, while Get Going highlights the must-do programs for the coming week. Flock and Feather is for all the birdwatchers out there.
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