IKLland Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 One more tip, and the most important thing HAVE FUN! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 2 hours ago, IKLland said: One more tip, and the most important thing HAVE FUN! Agreed!!! Love your new pfp, @IKLland! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Don't forget to look behind you, too. We tend to focus on what is in front of us, but it's worth stopping and turning to look behind yourself now and then. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 30 minutes ago, lonestranger said: Don't forget to look behind you, too. We tend to focus on what is in front of us, but it's worth stopping and turning to look behind yourself now and then. And up! The sky above you, above mountain ridges, etc. I think some people get caught up in looking for the little birds in the bushes and trees. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 Learn the names of the feathers on a bird's body, or at least refer to drawings. This will make it easier for you to describe what you saw when you ask for an ID, and easier to understand when others describe differences between the bird you saw and similar birds in your area. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 (edited) Don't crowd a bird for a better look/photo(Especially Owls). Edited March 2, 2021 by Kevin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Join ebird. Join Whatbird. Join your local Audubon Society or birding group. Meetings & birding sessions might be virtual or socially-distanced for now, but, eventually, we will "go live" again. Many of these organizations offer free introductory birding courses. I've also noted several local birders on ebird whose profile includes an open invitation to any and all to email them and "go birding!". A testament to their love of the pursuit and willingness to help the new convert. Go to your local birdfest. Some of the events are free and open to the public. One I just learned today: If a 2 year-old is included in your birding party, you will have low numbers. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 On 2/25/2021 at 4:04 PM, The Bird Nuts said: And up! The sky above you, above mountain ridges, etc. I think some people get caught up in looking for the little birds in the bushes and trees. And also look down for those infernal sparrows & wrens. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Also--be careful not to look through you binoculars or camera lens pointed at the sun. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 (edited) 4 minutes ago, floraphile said: Also--be careful not to look through you binoculars or camera lens pointed at the sun. Seriously. It hurts. I've followed pipits above me through bins before, and they flew in front of the sun, and I didn't realize what they were doing until too late. Had a stripe through my vision for a while. Never again... Edited March 4, 2021 by Avery 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 4 minutes ago, Avery said: Seriously. It hurts. I've followed pipits above me through bins before, and they flew in front of the sun, and I didn't realize what they were doing until too late. Had a stripe through my vision for a while. Never again... Mine is definitely the voice of experience. I didn't even think about it, much like you describe, I was just so excited to have an American Kestrel alight close enough for me to photograph without zooming. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 9 minutes ago, Avery said: Seriously. It hurts. I've followed pipits above me through bins before, and they flew in front of the sun, and I didn't realize what they were doing until too late. Had a stripe through my vision for a while. Never again... It only takes once, doesn't it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I have to remember this thread, and to incorporate some of this into the long-planned 'Tips for New Birders' pinned post. There's some good stuff here. Thread that evolved into a discussion of how to use ebird filter (?) as checklist to help with bird ID, how to use Merlin for same purpose. Edited March 29, 2021 by PaulK explaining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 On 3/4/2021 at 3:43 PM, floraphile said: One I just learned today: If a 2 year-old is included in your birding party, you will have low numbers. This is my frequent birding experience, and I concur. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 Another point: keep in mind where the sun is, and where it will be. If possible plan your route so the sun is behind you rather than in front so you see the bird, not the silhouette. Especially important if trying to take pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 25 minutes ago, PaulK said: Another point: keep in mind where the sun is, and where it will be. If possible plan your route so the sun is behind you rather than in front so you see the bird, not the silhouette. Especially important if trying to take pictures. Also, keeping track of the sun while watching birds overhead is vitally important if you don’t want to blind yourself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 31, 2021 Author Share Posted March 31, 2021 24 minutes ago, PaulK said: Another point: keep in mind where the sun is, and where it will be. If possible plan your route so the sun is behind you rather than in front so you see the bird, not the silhouette. Especially important if trying to take pictures. If you see a shadow, the bird is between its shadow on the ground and the sun in the sky. If the shadow is very close to you, the bird is on line between you and the sun, so don't bother looking for it in the glare. Track the shadow for a couple of seconds until the bird is off line, then look for it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 1 minute ago, Charlie Spencer said: If you see a shadow, the bird is between its shadow on the ground and the sun in the sky. If the shadow is very close to you, the bird is on line between you and the sun, so don't bother looking for it in the glare. Track the shadow for a couple of seconds until the bird is off line, then look for it. That's FANTASTIC advice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 31, 2021 Author Share Posted March 31, 2021 3 minutes ago, PaulK said: That's FANTASTIC advice I stole it from a Univ. of S. Carolina prof who was leading a pre-GBBC count at Congaree NP several years ago. A shadow passed over the parking lot and people were looking in all directions, mostly wrong. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 On 2/19/2021 at 12:15 PM, Charlie Spencer said: Get a field guide - Sibley, NatGeo. And once you have it, READ IT. Don't just look at the pictures. Read the Intro material, then read it again. Go birding. Read it again. Learn the parts of birds as pointed out in the Intro material. Go birding -- with the guide in hand -- and try to find the various bird parts indicated in the Intro material on some bird that does not move around a lot (American Robin often works very well). Look at the maps. Find the species that are mapped as occurring in your area regularly. Concentrate your study of the field guide on those species as, for the most part, you will NOT see species that are out of range (even if they're really pretty and you really want to see them). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, Tony Leukering said: And once you have it, READ IT. Don't just look at the pictures. Read the Intro material, then read it again. Go birding. Read it again. Learn the parts of birds as pointed out in the Intro material. Go birding -- with the guide in hand -- and try to find the various bird parts indicated in the Intro material on some bird that does not move around a lot (American Robin often works very well). Look at the maps. Find the species that are mapped as occurring in your area regularly. Concentrate your study of the field guide on those species as, for the most part, you will NOT see species that are out of range (even if they're really pretty and you really want to see them). I swear I'll get around to consolidating all this material sometime this year In the meantime, does anyone think it's worth recommending a state or regional guide to very new beginners, instead of an 'East / West' one? I know the formats vary widely, and the new birder won't gain the skills to use a 'real' guide effectively. Still, they strike me as a better way to start learning the local birds. There's no confusion over birds the 'newbie' won't be seeing, and the smaller number of birds may be less intimidating. Thoughts? And can 'newbie' birders be called 'nestlings' or 'fledglings'? Note that I am NOT asking if they qualify as 'juveniles' or 'immatures'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Most under-used bird-ID features: Leg color Bill color and pattern Eye color Notice a pattern? None of those involve feathers. Our eyes are naturally drawn to plumage. Learn to look at other parts. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 (edited) USE MORE THAN ONE CHARACTER TO MAKE AN IDENTIFICATION. I have seen multiple observers identify Lesser Scaup as Blue-winged Teal... because Blue-winged Teal was the first species in the guide that has a significant patch of white between the bill and the eye. Finally (after which I'll step down off this old soapbox), believe the field guide (if it's a good one). One is unlikely to run across an odd-plumaged bird on any given day. If the the bird doesn't match the illustration, look farther into the field guide. Edited May 24, 2021 by Tony Leukering addition 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted May 24, 2021 Author Share Posted May 24, 2021 5 hours ago, Tony Leukering said: Most under-used bird-ID features: Leg color Bill color and pattern Eye color Notice a pattern? None of those involve feathers. Our eyes are naturally drawn to plumage. Learn to look at other parts. HOLY COW, Tony's got an avatar! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 On 5/24/2021 at 5:42 PM, Charlie Spencer said: HOLY COW, Tony's got an avatar! That was my first thought when I saw that! 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.