Birdwatching is a fun and easy hobby to get into. It doesn’t take a lot of money to get started and you can do it from anywhere, including your backyard! In fact, according to the national survey completed in 2016 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, more than 45 million people enjoy watching birds from their homes or away from home. Birding and other wildlife watchers contribute up to $80 billion of the US economy. There are many different ways you can enjoy birding and this article will provide you with the steps you need to take. Everything from the basics to get started with birdwatching to planing trips for elaborate adventures! Start Birdwatching At Home In Your Own BackyardIt is extremely easy to start creating your backyard bird retreat. Here, I will go over some basic methods to start attracting birds to your backyard. Everything from bird feeders to vegetation and habitat. Trees, Shrubs, and PlantsThere is no doubt that what attracts birds to a place is the plants and trees that surround it. If you have a big enough space where you can attract some of them to create nests or visit your backyard, then you will need plants, trees, and shrubs to get them to stay where you can observe them. A developer named Jeff Radzak made a report entitled Domestic and Tropical Plants in Aviaries. In this report, he studies two groups of birds. One of which had a planted environment while the other group had a bare flight. He found that those birds that lived in the planted environment thrived better than the other group. Not all plants however are safe for birds. You can design your backyard aviary, however you want, by using these safe plants:
Bird FeedersBut of course, plants aren’t the only ones that attract birds to an aviary. Bird feeders would also be a wonderful and beneficial addition to your backyard aviary. You have to be strategic in where you place it, what type of bird feed that you use (Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Finches, Wild Birds, Song Birds, Orioles, Cardinals, Yellow Finches, etc.), and how big the bird feeder should be. Here are some tips on how you can make your bird feeders advantageous for you aviary:
There are many types of feeders available. You can even build one yourself if you are that crafty. No matter what design or shape of feeder you have, it will take some time for the birds to get accustomed to it. Patience is the key. Bird FoodNow that you’ve got your feeder, it’s time to talk about what you have to fill those feeders with to attract certain types of birds. Many types of food can attract different types of bird species. Based also on your feeder, you might need a specific type of bird food. Here are the types and kinds of bird food to attract the specific bird species you want:
Here are some tips with bird food and feeders to keep the birds returning to your aviary:
Birdhouses and Nesting BoxesBirdhouses and nesting boxes are the same. The more proper term being the latter. As birds usually use these “birdhouses” for nesting. Something that I picked up while trying to make my nest box. When building one of these nest boxes you have to make sure that it will be suitable for the birds to properly nest in one of them. Here are a few tips on how to make your birdhouse into a nest box:
Nesting ShelfA nesting shelf is for birds that prefer to build nests in a structure that is not fully enclosed. Certain species of birds are “open-nester” birds and prefer nesting in structures that are protected, yet open. For example, Cardinals are open-nesters and below is a great nesting shelf to use for open-nesting birds:
JCs Wildlife Cedar Robin Roost Birdhouse with Recycled Poly Lumber Roof, Green
$26.53
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Bird FountainsBirdbath fountains are not just simple basins with water. These birdbath fountains have splashing, dribbling, and streaming water to allow for birds to drink and preen. There are many different types and designs for bird fountains. Some more elaborate than others. It can have a simple stream like a waterfall or some splashing water to allow for easier drinking and preening or grooming. The design and type of splash of water you have on your fountain also greatly affects how you can attract birds. The more splashing there is the more birds that may come to your fountain. Some birds enjoy the geometric shapes, while some prefer a plain fountain design. Whatever fountain you choose, make sure that you maintain it well. Here are a few tricks to easily take care of your fountains:
Best
Nova Microdermabrasion 3-Tier Pedestal Bird Bath Fountain W/Pump Outdoor Garden Decor
Runner Up
Birds Choice BCDIASY Burley Flowering Daisy Clay Bird Bath, Medium, Green
Honorable Mention
Best Choice Products Outdoor Pedestal Bird Bath Decoration w/Sparrow Statues, Fleur-de-Lis Accents - Gold
$51.99
$120.19
$38.38
Best
Nova Microdermabrasion 3-Tier Pedestal Bird Bath Fountain W/Pump Outdoor Garden Decor
$51.99
Runner Up
Birds Choice BCDIASY Burley Flowering Daisy Clay Bird Bath, Medium, Green
$120.19
Honorable Mention
Best Choice Products Outdoor Pedestal Bird Bath Decoration w/Sparrow Statues, Fleur-de-Lis Accents - Gold
$38.38
Identifying Birds: Using Bird Guides (Field Guides)Attracting birds to your backyard or going on a hike to watch and observe birds is awesome. However, being able to identify your favorite birds is a must. To do that, I suggest that you pick up a good bird field guide. These are inexpensive and worth the money. This way you get to recognize the different species of birds, their habits, mating calls, migration patterns, etc. There are many choices to what bird guide you can use. There are traditional guides such as books and there are guides that are updated that you can check on your phone through certain apps. Once you find a guide for yourself, you can start building your bird book of what you have seen and what you still wish to see. Traditional Birding GuidesOne way to go is to pick up a book on the different types of birds in the country and around the world. There are many books that you can choose to help you identify and locate the birds that you are looking for. Here are some examples: The Sibley Guide to Birds
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The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition (Sibley Guides)
The Sibley Guide was released in 2000 and has easily become the standard book guide for birdwatching. Since its release, it has remained the top birding guide that most bird watchers still use up to this date. It has David Sibley’s classic drawings with more plumages and subspecies than any other guide today. There is a 2014 Second Edition Version of this book you can get without the minor printing issues of the original release. Photo Birding GuidesA long-standing debate between birdwatchers is whether photos or illustrations are best. A photo can depict the bird in its natural habitat state while you can draw the bird into the plumage and position you want with illustrations. In my opinion, both books below have great depictions of the different bird types and species. While The Stokes Field Guide has more photos, the Kaufman Field Guide is more compact and you can bring in to the field.
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The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Stokes Field Guides)
Birds of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides, Flexicover Edition)
$33.71
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Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North AmericaCreated by Roger Tory Peterson, this classic bird guide is loved by many. He modernized the use of bird guides when he released his Field Guide to the Birds in 1934. It has breathtaking artwork with the use of bright colors. With this book, you will feel the love of birds and birding with Peterson’s book. He has then released an enlarged version of his book in 2008.
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Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
$26.00 −$15.60 $10.40
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Mobile Birding AppsAs with all things, technology has changed everything. Nursing with a heavy book is not ideal anymore as you can find everything on your phone today. Not only do they offer actual photos and illustrations, but you can also play the sounds of the birds on the apps themselves. Here are a few apps that you can download directly on your phone to help you identify the birds you see in the field:
Whatever app you choose, you will be able to identify what birds are present in your aviary or the field. Be warned, for some of these apps are not updated and may not contain any resources for identifying rare bird species. Specialized Birding GuidesIf you are a fan of a more specific bird type or species, then maybe specialized bird guides would be the best for you to purchase. Here are some examples of specialized bird guides that you can look for when deep-diving into a specific bird.
However you like your bird guide, remember to always take note of what birds you have seen. Create a list on your phone or a notebook and take down notes on where you spotted them, in what season, and what they are doing. Who knows, you might be the next big birding guide creator. Birding EquipmentBinocularsBinoculars are the most essential tool for anyone who loves birdwatching. It is the tool that allows you to observe your target bird from a safe distance without disturbing them. It will give us the sight of these birds when our ordinary eyes fail to allow us to watch them. The best binoculars do not come cheap. Most birdwatchers like myself have gotten hand-me-downs from the family. However, with new technologies and designs, who wouldn’t be attracted to get themselves the latest versions of their favorite binoculars? Here are a few tips on how to keep your binoculars in tip-top shape:
Here are a couple of binoculars that are perfect for you to use while birding: Leica Camera 40384 Noctivid Binoculars
Leica Camera 40384 Noctivid Binoculars, Black, 8X/42 mm
$2,696.30
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The Leica Noctivid Binoculars is topnotch in both form and function. It makes use of SCHOTT High Transmission glass with a 12-element lens configuration and their HighLux-System anti-reflection multi-coatings and compact roof prisms to produce bright and high contrast images. Zeiss Terra ED 8×42 Binoculars
Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 Binoculars for Hunting, Birdwatching, Outdoor, Traveling, Grey (524203-9907-000)
The Zeiss Terra ED 8×42 is a well-balanced HD Binocular that provides outstanding performance. This is mostly used for nature observation with amazing design, ergonomics, and optics. It also comes to you with a very alluring price tag. Spotting ScopesWhile binoculars are essential in a birdwatcher’s kit, Spotting Scopes are far greater in the sense that you can look the bird you are watching in the eye. Spotting scopes have glorious magnification that can help you affirm the bird you have spotted. It takes you closer than binoculars could ever do. A good spotting scope will change your birding experience. The optics and optical coatings and housing are designed for terrestrial viewing. It means that they are made for you to appreciate nature and its surroundings including the birds you are watching. Here are a few choices for good spotting scopes you can use to get a closer look on your birds: Gosky 20-60 X 80 Porro Prism Spotting Scope
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Gosky 20-60 X 80 Porro Prism Spotting Scope- Waterproof Scope for Bird Watching Target Shooting Archery Range Outdoor Activities -with Tripod & Digiscoping Adapter
This spotting scope is a favorite among many birders. It is specially designed for bird watching and outdoor activities and features the following:
Landove HD 20-60×80 Spotting Scope
HD 20-60x80 Spotting Scope, Waterproof Dual Focusing Zoom BAK4 Fully Multi Coated 45 Degree Angled Eyepiece for Hunting Archery Shooting Targets Bird Watching with Smartphone Adapter
This spotting scope has a powerful zoom magnification range from 20X to 60X power, meet your different observation needs. Along with a tabletop tripod, smartphone digiscoping adapter and carrying case, this high power spotting scope not only provides a wide HD optics zoom vision but also brings a steady and comfortable viewing condition. The scope features:
CameraCameras are now a big part of who we are as a society. We can easily take a photo of a moment simply at the palm of our hands. In birdwatching, there comes a time where you will move from simply observing the birds to taking momentous photos of the birds that you encounter in the field. A phone camera can only take so much. For clearer and crisper photos, professional cameras are needed to capture these memories on the field. Here are a couple of cameras that can aid you in possibly completing your birding wish list and identifying the rarest of birds. Canon Powershot SX70 HS
Canon Powershot SX70 20.3MP Digital Camera 65x Optical Zoom Lens 4K Video 3-inch LCD Tilt Screen (Black)
This camera is a bridge camera that features a fixed long zoom lens. The SX70 has 65x zoom and an electronic viewfinder. It can easily best some of the better DSLRs in the market today. However, because of the fixed lens, it is not the best option for action shots like when birds start to fly away. They are more suited to capturing photos of birds that are sitting still. Canon EOS 7D Mark II
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Canon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
The EOS 7D Mark II is a big favorite among birdwatchers. It has amazing functionality that gives other cameras a run for their money. It has dual DIGIC processors delivering continuous shooting of more than 1,000 JPEG images and 31 RAW photos. If you have erratic birds flying in the distance, fear not, because the phase detection on this camera allows you to shoot them with ease. Birding DestinationsBirdwatching or Birding will take you places. To see a multitude of birds, you will need to leave your comfort zone and try various places to find rare birds that are only native to a specific area. Here is a list of the best destinations for birdwatching in the US and Canada with additional destinations outside of North America: US and CanadaSoutheastern ArizonaThe corner of southeastern Arizona is a hotspot for birdwatchers everywhere. It has a total of 24 hotspots where these birdwatchers observe, take photos and enjoy the birdlife around Arizona. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: April through September Birds Sighted: Elegant Trogon, Painted Redstart, Gray Hawk, Mexican Jay, a dozen hummingbird species Cape May, New JerseyBirding in Cape May, New Jersey is a feast! Aside from the number of birds to be seen, it also holds the most number of events for birdwatching. Events such as the World Series of Birding, Cape May Spring Weekend, Cape May Fall Weekend, the hawk watch are what people go to Cape may for. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: September and October for raptor migration, May and early June for shorebirds Birds Sighted: Hawks, warblers, shorebirds, waterfowl, swallows, wrens, sparrows, and buntings J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, FloridaThe Wildlife Refuge in Darling, Florida is famous for the numerous wading birds that can be spotted there. The vas freshwater habitats, mangrove forests, and mudflats attract almost 300 species of birds. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: December through April Birds Sighted: Mangrove Cuckoo, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, White Ibis, plus ducks in winter, and songbirds in spring Point Reyes National Seashore, CaliforniaThe Point Reyes Peninsula and the surrounding 70,000-acre Point Reyes National Seashore attract a multitude of types of birdlife. More than 460 species of birds have been spotted and recorded as of this day. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: Spring and fall migrations are what’s most awaited Birds Sighted: Seabirds, shorebirds, warblers, woodpeckers — you name it, it’s probably at Point Reyes Point Pelee National Park, OntarioOne of Canada’s most popular and most visited parks, the Point Pelee National Park is where migrating birds in the Atlantic and Mississippi airways take refuge after a long flight. It is one of the most important bird areas globally because of its freshwater marshes, sandy beaches, and cedar savanna. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: May and the fall season Birds Sighted: 36 warbler species are sighted annually Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, FloridaThe Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary protects the country’s largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress and has a two-mile boardwalk that lures birdwatchers from far and wide. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: All year round, but Nesting Seasons are March and April Birds Sighted: Wood Stork, Swallow-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, songbirds, and waders. Everglades National Park, FloridaThe Everglades, although facing numerous developments over the decades, it remains to be a mecca for birdwatchers everywhere. It became a national park because they wanted to protect the birds that were wading and making the everglades home to more than 400 species of birds. Click here for more information. Best time to visit: December through April Birds Sighted: Limpkin, Snail Kite, Short-tailed Hawk, Mangrove Cuckoo, Greater Flamingo Global DestinationsIsle of May, SCOTLANDThe Isle of May in Scotland is home to 120,000 Puffins from April to Mid-August. It is a haven for numerous other birds but the main attractions are the Puffins the fill the Isle. Watch as they duck dive and plunge into the deep waters below. Click here for more information. Playa Larga, CUBABecause of the swampy grasslands, mangrove forests, and coral reefs, the Cienaga De Zapata National Park in Playa Larga, Cuba is a haven for many birds. It is home to 28 species of birds that can only be seen in Cuba. A place to put in your travel list. Click here for more information. Ngorongoro Crater, TANZANIASafari in Tanzania is one of the best places to do some birding. Hundreds of bird species call this their homes like the African Bustard, Kite Birds, ostriches, and many more. Click here for more information. Jardin, COLOMBIAPay your way to enter the private reserve where you can see hundreds of bird species and some only native to Colombia. The Andean Cock is one of the main attractions of this private reserve. Enter the wonderful world of birding in Reserva Natural de Rocas in Colombia. Click here for more information. Bocas Del Toro, PANAMÁIsla Bastimentos National Marine Park can be found in the beautiful Bocas del Toro in Panama. This archipelago has recorded over 1,000 species of birds for as long as they’ve known. A place like this is a mecca for birdwatchers. Click here for more information. Ranganathittu, INDIAThe sanctuary in Ranganathittu is a small archipelago in the Cauvery River basin. Many birds use this basin as a nesting ground, Pelicans and Storks among some of them. Take a boat ride to get the full experience of bird watching in India. Click here for more information. Other Birdwatching ResourcesIf you do not enjoy birdwatching alone, or you want to find a new friend that you want to share the passion of birdwatching with, there are some clubs and groups on the Internet and on Facebook that you can join to completely enjoy birdwatching. Here are some of them:
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