Birdwatching is a wonderful pastime that can be enjoyed by all the family. It is low cost and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. If you enjoy watching wildlife programs on television, then why not go out into the countryside and experiencing the fascinating world of birds for yourself.

Here are ten tips to help you get started with birdwatching:

1. Purchase a good field guide.

Don not buy the encyclopedia of birds in hardback as you will need to carry the field guide with you. A pocket sized book that identifies all the main species and has good illustrations is ideal. When joining the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) you can receive an excellent field guide as a free gift.

2. Wear camouflage clothing.

Wear clothing that match your environment. An orange jacket in a green field is not a good idea. Try to avoid materials that make a load rustling noise. When approaching your target make use of natural features such as trees and keep low.

3. Get a good pair of binoculars.

Keep your binoculars around your neck as it is difficult to remove binoculars quickly from a case without disturbing a bird. Don not allow them to swing from your hand as they can soon get damaged.

4. Keep your eyes on the bird.

Do not look down when you have spotted a bird. Keep looking at it and raise the binoculars to your eyes. It is easy to loose sight of your target if you look away, especially if the bird is in flight.

5. Take a notebook with you.

Use the notebook to record the bird’s size, shape, color and markings. Focus on the beak and tail shape. These notes can then be used to identify the bird in your field guide, after it has flown away.

6. Learn to recognize bird calls and the tracks they leave in sand or mud.

You will probably hear the bird before seeing it so being able to recognize its call is a great help. Also the tracks the bird leaves in wet sand or mud will give you a good clue to its identity.

7. Put a bird feeder up in your garden.

It will attract a wide variety of birds to your garden and is good for identification practice from the comfort of your armchair.

8. Bird watching is best early in the morning or at dusk.

These are the best times to watch birds. Some birds, such as starlings, gather in large numbers when returning home to roost. It is a spectacular display.

9. Use a telescope for long range viewing

The enhanced magnification of a telescope is a great help if viewing birds at a long distance. You will need a tripod to keep the telescope steady. Again think lightweight when choosing your equipment. It may need to be carried a long way to your birdwatching location.

10. Join the RSPB.

Members have access to over 100 nature reserves maintained by the RSPB. You will also receive a quarterly magazine packed full of advice and interesting features. Most importantly you will be helping the RSPB protect endangered birds and habitats for future generations to enjoy.

Whether searching for the rare Golden Eagle, watching Red Kite in Wales or enjoying the company of a Red Robin while doing the gardening, birdwatching is a very rewarding activity. So pick up your binoculars, grab a notebook and head out into the countryside. It’s a great day out and you never know what you might find.
James Todman is a web content editor and keen supporter of the RSPB.

Birdwatching can be a very fun and interesting activity once you are familiar with the thing that you need to know when doing it. The first thing that you need to familiarize yourself about bird watching is identifying the bird that you will watch.

This very task is quite challenging because it is not easy to identify them especially when they are so many feet away from the ground. Since birds are energetic and active animals, you need a clear and quick eye to be able to see as many details possible in such as very short period of time.

Aside from being too far away from you, other problems that you might encounter-especially if you are a first time bird watcher-is the dim light shaded by trees, the glint of sunlight that can affect your sight, and the hidden places where birds
go to play. So, when you are into bird watching, it is always best to have a general knowledge on bird’s attitudes and observe them carefully. You might not name them properly the first time but you definitely can the next time if you pay proper attention in observing them.

The following are just some  helpful tips that can help you in your very first bird watching session:

- Always keep on eye on one bird.  Bird watching is more effective if one uses binoculars. When you are bird watching, try to spot only one bird that catches your attention. Once you have seen one, never take your eyes off it because it might fly to a place where you cannot see it.

In most bird watching centers, beginners are given a field guide in a form of a booklet or brochure so they can identify birds  . Once you know what is it, take time to observe its physical details as well as its behaviors and mannerisms. Make sure that you observe the bird’s movements, markings, feeding habits, songs, color, and size so you can easily identify it the next time you see it.

- Make sure that you listen intently for the bird’s calls and song. Although listening for a bird’s song is easy, it doesn’t stay long in a person’s memory. What you should do is to listen intently when the bird calls or sings and play the bird’s song in your mind repetitively. Listening to a bird’s call and song is important because it can help you identify the bird even without seeing it.

- Take time to estimate the bird’s shape and general size. The average shape and size of the bird will give you a huge clue in finding out the family it came from. In bird watching, make sure that you assess its overall appearance and take note of its approximate size and shape. Once you can tell from the size and shape of the bird what kind is it, then you are doing good.

- Pay attention to the bill characteristics and facial markings of the bird in sight. This is one of the hardest things to do because the average of almost all birds are small. They also keep on moving so it will be hard to take note any unique markings on their faces. It is also equally hard to take note of characteristics of its bills because most birds keep on pecking all the time.

To get these details, spot a bird that doesn’t fly around that much. Once you found one, start observing it head by looking for any distinguishing hue patches or color strips. These can be present in their eye lines, crowns, napes, and arcs or in the rings.