Tips For New Birders

Bird watching is an interesting hobby that can be enjoyable on many levels. As a new birder, you can watch different birds visiting your backyard feeders, just watch them and try to identify them it is the basic and beginning step for any new birder. You must learn to identify the bird, once you get familiar with some kind of bird species, and then you can watch them closely using binoculars, sit in your local park and take a good pair of binoculars and watch the bird closely.

black bird

If you really want to know more about birds, then below you can find few steps that help you get started with you birding skills.

Be detailed about identification:

Gather as many details and reasons why a bird is what you or someone else thinks it is. Ask questions if you are birding with a group.

  1. Be clear about identification, gather as many reasons and details about the birds, its behavioral patterns, and clear all you question with the help of experienced birder or join a group and learn about every particular detail about the bird.
  2. Once you see a new bird in your local area, try to find completely about that bird, stay on that particular bird until you gathered all the details including its size, shape, wings shape, its bill shape, shape of the tail and its behavioral patterns.
  3. First learn about local birds and common birds. Learn and get know them well. You can also refer them in your local field guide. You can find common birds like the song sparrow, robin, etc, in the field guide.
  4. Learn the basics of bird topography like crown, nape, lores, undertail coverts, mantle, primaries, and mandible.
  5. There are approximately ten thousand bird species in the entire world, and there as several birder all over the world
  6. The general name for a bird can be called differently in different parts of the world.

No birder is completely unaware of the birds, which is for sure, otherwise why would they choose to become a birder in the first place. The term new birder is used because they have less experience then the experienced birders.

Change of Place

The experienced birder can also feel like a new birder if they visit the new region with new habitats and several other different bird species. For example, if birders lived in California will be surprised to see different birds in Florida.

Learning new Skills

Once the experience birders feel they have learnt everything, they actually want to develop their skills with several aspects of birding; they want to learn new skills and anticipated to learn more about birds. The skills include bird photography, and their hearing skills in identifying birds calls and songs, they try to sharpen their ear skills

Routing back to their Birding Interest

some birders were very active member during their young age, but, they might have left their dream hobby in the middle due to their personal responsibilities. But once they return back, it looks everything new and they may feel as a new birder. They may find new field guides, high-tech equipment, and several other things

Of course, age, race, gender and ethnicity are not to be considered even for experienced or new birder. The same kind of enthusiasm will be shown by both experienced or a beginner when they watch birds.

Best Tips for a New Birder

You can encourage and support new birders in several ways, it doesn’t matter what level of experience they have or what their birding interests are.

  1. Welcome them: Welcome the new birders, say hello and introduce yourself and make the new birder feel one among the group. Ask the question that makes them comfortable to answer and make a friendly conversation about their familiarity with birds, and etc.
  2. Share the experience with them: New birders may not be having best binoculars or latest field guide. You can share your equipment with them and teach them few simple techniques to identify the birds using binoculars. Make them feel comfortable to ask questions and your suggestions.
  3. Instructive Identifications: Teach the new birders to identify the new species; it gives them the greatest thrill in birding. This kind of teaching can help the new birder develop their identification skills. Give them some clues to identify the bird.
  4. Offer Resources: If you think new birder is very much interested in learning more about birds, then provide them resources that they can use at home and in the field. Sharing resources includes where the birds supply stores are, birding websites, and invite them to join the birding club.
  5. Exceptional Ethics: Always practice best birding ethics, new birders particularly observe your nature and behavior and follow your ways. The behavior includes how you react when you spot a unique bird, and how try to identify the bird.

New or experienced bird watcher must learn to help each other, help each other to develop new techniques in identifying the new species, how to identify them with their calls and songs, their size and shape, etc. This way you can become the expert and enjoy the bird watching more.

Photo Credit: Barbara Willi