Start By Listening
Lucky for us birds make a lot of noises.
And, in places with lots of trees and bushes, listening for bird noises is the best way to find them.
This is especially true for small birds, like humming birds, which are difficult to see if they are sitting at the top of a tree.
Birds often give away their location by making some kind of noise.
For instance, I’ve often spotted White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, and California Thrashers simply by following the sound of rustling, dry leaves (these birds love foraging on the ground).
So, if you want to see more birds, listen closely and investigate.
Bonus Tip: For those who want to get better at identifying birds by what they sound like, get the Merlin Bird ID app (by Cornell Lab) for android or iOS; the app is able to identify birds by sound or by uploading a photo.
Bring a Field Guide
In this digital era, many of us automatically reach for our phones and use Google search to get answers to our most pressing questions.
In the context of birdwatching, googling an unfamiliar bird may not always be the fastest way to identify a bird.
For instance, you might search for “small brown bird” or “duck with white head” and be left scrolling through articles and images looking for something that looks similar to what you just saw.
With enough effort, you will likely find the bird you are looking for because Google search is shockingly good at presenting relevant results.
But, there is a tried-and-true way to identify birds, a field guild.
Field guides are great because you can turn to the species specific section, identify the bird in front of you, and resume watching birds—all without staring at a screen.
Even if you identify a bird using an app, like the Merlin Bird ID app, comparing what you found to what’s in the field guide is a great way to boost your bird knowledge.
Go to Where the Birds Are
Birds tend to congregate in places where they feel safe, and where food is abundant.
Wetlands, ponds, and lakes are all ideal places to find birds.
If you live in a big city, pigeons, sparrows, starlings, and brewer’s blackbirds might be the only birds around, but they can be fun to watch as well, especially in parks or near a pond.
Beaches are also excellent places to observe birds.
Bring Quality Binoculars
Binoculars are a key tool for birdwatchers.
They allow us to observe birds from a distance and spot little details, like plumage variations.
Beginner bird watchers often buy the cheapest pair they can find, but soon realize that looking at birds through cheap binoculars is not very fun.
If you love birdwatching, invest in a quality pair, which will last you many years and enhance your birdwatching experience.
A fun alternative to binoculars is a spotting scope.
Spotting scopes only allow you to observe a bird with one eye, but you can digiscope with a spotting scope.
This involves holding your smartphone up the eyepiece of the spotting scope, which allows you to see the picture on the screen of your phone.
Mind the Weather & Time of Day
Your chances of seeing birds is greatly influenced by the weather and time of day.
Many birds prefer to feed at dawn and dusk so getting outside during these times gives you the best chance of watching birds eat (which is more fun than seeing them standing still).
Bring a Notebook
Writing down which birds you saw, the time of day, and where you saw them can be a fun exercise that will help you remember your birding journey years from now.
I personally like keeping notes in a physical journal because I like disconnecting from my phone when I’m birdwatching, but recording your sighting in a digital format also has it benefits because you can access them later on your computer and email them to others easily.
Doing both sounds a little redundant, but taking pictures of your physical notes after you return from your birding excursion is also a great option.
Get to Know the Birds in Your Backyard
Observing the birds around you is immensely enjoyable, and even those living in big cities may learn to appreciate the antics of a pigeon.
A great way to observe birds in your local area is to set up a bird feeder.
If you have a yard, planting flowers and bushes is also a great way to attract birds.
Join a Bird Walk in Your Area
Birders are everywhere.
See if you city has groups that meet up to find and observe birds in your area.
This is a great way to meet fellow birders and learn tips and tricks for identifying birds.
Conclusion
I hope this article provided you with some ideas for how to start or improve your birdwatching journey.
I call it a “journey” because once you fall in love with birds, you will never stop looking for them.