Bird watching is one of the most popular and fast growing hobbies in the world. There are many groups who organize into bird watching as well as individuals. It is more fun to go birding with those who appreciate the same activities you do. Bird watching may be very relaxing, it is a simple form of pleasure. You don’t really need anything special to go bird watching except your own eyes. But most bird watchers have a pair of binoculars and a field guide to birds to help identify birds seen. It can be very rewarding to see and identify a new bird that you have never seen. Some birders keep a life list of all the birds they have seen. Usually the name is recorded, with the date and where they were seen along with any other pertinent information. There are so many varied and beautiful birds to see and identify, therefore an going activity. In pursuit of birds one may go to various parts of the country or world wide. Birding may be combined with other activities such as hiking, fishing, camping or boating.
Written by Jack Kidd

Located merely an hours drive north of San Francisco, California, Point Reyes National Seashore offers some of the best birding in the continental United States. Over 400 species have been seen there, which is over 45% of the bird in Continental U.S.

The first stop in Point Reyes is Bolinas Lagoon. Here migratory shorebirds and waterfowl gather in great numbers in the spring, and many will spend the winter here as well. Brants winter here, and some may linger until late May. I was able to find them on the roadside, in a mixed flock with Canada Geese. Red-necked Phalaropes can also be seen here in the spring and fall; however, they are very irregular and not always present as I found out. Egrets and Herons stay year round here, and are abundant in the summer months.

The next stop is at Bear Valley, the park Headquarters and Visitor Center. The area is wooded with both conifers and deciduous trees, perfect for the songbirds. There are picnic tables on the edge of the woods, and a small trail meanders through the woods. This is theplace to look for California specialties. Here Oak Titmice and Acorn Woodpeckers are common year round, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees are fairly common as well. Nuttall’s Woodpecker and California Thrashers are harder to find, but are definitely present year round. Wrentits are also here, although difficult to find, because they inconspicuously sulk in the undergrowth.  Spotted and California Towhees are both possibilities, and Pacific-Slope Flycatchers, Cassin’s and Warbling Vireos, Allen’s Hummingbird and Hermit Warblers nest here.  Pileated Woodpeckers nest here also, and stay through the winter.  This is the hub for migration, with Townsend’s and Black-throated Gray Warbler migrating through, along with numerous sparrows, flycatchers, other warblers and Vaux’s Swift.  Red-brested Sapsuckers spend the winter here.  Also, one could try their luck at dawn or dusk for Northern Saw-whet, Northern Pygmy, and Spotted Owls. California QUail can be seen regularly year-round, and are often see on the roadside as I did.

Drake’s Beach is a favorite stop for people, and is often crowded, but this is no reason to pass it up. Western Gulls are dominant here, although Heermann’s, Glaucous-winged, California and Mew Gulls are all possible in the winter months. Least Sandpipers and Sanderlings are common in the winter, and Surfbirds can occasionally found on the rocks during winter, possibly early spring or late fall. Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants can be seen feeding in the water, while Western and Clark’s Grebes gather in groups offshore. Pacific and Common Loons winter here, often lingering through spring. Pigeon Guillemots can often be seen diving for fish farther offshore. All three Scoters: Surf, Black and White-Winged, are present in the winter, and they all can linger until June, although the Surf Scoter is more prevalent. Marine mammals such as seals and sea otters can occasionally be seen from Drake’s Beach. Tule Elk can be seen on the road to and from Drake’s beach as well.

Close to Drake’s Beach is the less popular Limantour Estero. This is the shorebird hub. Snowy Plovers nest here and Black-necked Stilts wade in the ponds. Dunlins, Red Knots, and Dowitchers can be found here from winter through spring. Clapper Rails and Tricolored Blackbirds can be found here as well. Both Red and Red-necked Phalaropes can be spotted here in migration, as can Whimbrels. Rafts of ducks are common in the winter on the ponds.

The main attraction of Point Reyes is the lighthouse. A brief uphill hike can yield sparrows, including Golden-crowned Sparrows in the winter. The best time of year to go to the lighthouse is winter and early spring. Once May comes, it is foggy nearly every day. The fog is often dense, but the nesting Common Murres and Pigeon Guillemots are always still visible. Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants also nest on the sheer cliffs beneath the lighthouse. In the spring on a clear day, Shearwaters and other pelagic birds can be seen. And if you are really lucky, whales can be observed from the lighthouse. Rhinoceros Auklets and Tufted Puffins are not guarantees, but can be seen occasionally on clear spring and summer days, and are rarer in the fall and winter. Northern Fulmars and Black-legged Kittiwakes spend the winter months here.

Alike the Lighthouse, Chimney Rock offers more of the same, just in smaller numbers. However, this is the place to see Black Oystercatchers,

and one can often see them feeding on mussels and oysters (hence the name) on the rocks below the cliffs. With luck, one might see Marbled Murrelets here feeding in the water below. Elephant seals are common, and the beach they live on is adjacent to Chimney Rock. Peregrine Falcon nest on the Chimney Rock cliffs as well, and in late May and early June the mother can sometimes be seen feeding her fledglings, as I was lucky enough to witness.

Point Reyes is one of the premier bird spots in the country. In February, the spectacular Point Reyes Birding Festival takes place, and there are many guided tours to see all of the fantastically diverse avian fauna in Point Reyes. I have found a

spotting scope or telescope is very handy, and I recommend bringing one to view shorebirds, the cliff-nesting birds, and birds swimming and feeding in the water. Weather in central California is unpredictable at best, so be prepared with a raincoat and a light jacket. You can pack you own sack lunch to maximize birding time, although several places in the towns of Olema and Point Reyes Station offer pre-made picnic lunches, and there is a restaurant at Drake’s Beach. I hope you enjoy Point Reyes’s birds, wildlife, and world class scenery as much as I did. Good luck and Happy Birding!

This was written by my grandson, Sam, a  from Austin, Texas who has 483 birds on his life list.  He has identified them from California,  Colorado, Arizona, New York, Maine and his home state of Texas where he had been birding over a large part of the state.

Austin, Texas: According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are 51.3 million birders in the U.S. on October 15, 2009 – Did you know that birding is the number one hobby in North America next to gardening in the U.S. alone and the numbers is climbing..

To begin bird watching all you need are 3 items, binoculars, a bird field book, and a blank notebook. Having a friend that has more experience may be helpful. The need for patience is imperative because of the nature of birds, who are easily scared by unfamiliar noises of human activity. I you can do birding quietly it can be rewarding and few activities bring such satisfaction, connecting with nature, sense of wonder as well as peaceful solitude – in today’s
busy world.

There are many areas where birders gather to study migrating birds. Bird watchers in the south enjoy the Fall migration, when birds leave the cold weather in the north and follow their flight paths southward to Mexico, Central America or South America and stop along the way for rest and nutrition. Ducks, geese, hummingbirds, warblers, raptors and warblers stop along the Gulf of Mexico during their southward trek and are favorites among birders. Then after Winter subsides and the weather turns warmer, the reverse happens and birders in the north anxiously await their return in the Spring where they build their nests and raise their young. Later in the year their instincts tell them it time to take their trip south again. Not all birds migrate.

Where ever you go, you’ll see bird life. It may be in your back yard, a local park, around a large lake, a small pond, or high on a mountain trail, there will be birds of all kinds. It is fun to try to identify them, follow them through rough terrain and then get out your field guide and try to identify them. Often times you are unable to identify the bird. Which is often the case. But the more you study birds the more of a chance of making a positive identification.

Birdwatchingforyou.com Website by Jack C. Kidd a retired physician living in Austin Texas and has had a a

Have you ever taken a bird watching field trip? Well, if you love birds and love bird watching but until now have confined your birdwatching activities to the back yard or local parks, it may be time to get your back pack and venture into your first bird watching field trip. There is nothing quite like getting up early having a quick breakfast, getting the proper clothing, your binoculars and field guide.

If this is your first time, the following tips will give you a good basic foundation of necessities you will need in order to best enjoy your time in the outdoors.

Often you will hear a bird before you see it. Learning to bird by ear is an important part of becoming a good bird watcher. The more time you spend in the field watching birds, the better you will become at learning to recognize the different mating calls and vocalizations made by your favorite birds. To hone up on your skills you can actually purchase CD recordings of the bird calls of literally thousands of birds. Use these to practice identifying different species by their songs and sounds. This can be very difficult if you can hear the bird but not able to see it. But with more experience you will be able to connect the song to the bird.

Knowing the types of shelter and trees that your bird species prefer is the second key to finding their nests and setting up your stakeout. Some prefer to build their nests close to the ground, while others will find the topmost branches of a tree to build their home.

To have the best chance of spotting your bird species, it’s important to know what times of the day it tends to feed. Most species prefer to start their foraging just before sunrise and will continue up to noon. Some, however, prefer later in the day and you’ll find them just becoming active before sunset. Often times if the birds are nesting and feeding young birds they may start early and feed their young almost all the day except in areas where it is extremely hot at mid day.

The most necessary piece of equipment you’ll need is a spotting scope with a tripod or a good pair of binoculars. A regular telescope won’t do. You need one with the proper level of magnification. As birding as become more and more popular, it’s become easier to find many brands of birding binoculars made specifically for bird watchers.

Other Birding Necessities

To be prepared to spend the day outdoors with your bird friends, you’ll need the following minimum supplies:

- A sunscreen of at least 15 SPF. This will provide moderate protection from the sun. For extended periods of time, go for an SPF of 30+. Of coarse wear a wide brimmed hat.

- Water. You lose lots of water while hiking which can lead to dehydration. Take a canteen or bottled water. Drink lots of water before you start your hike and take periodic sips along the way.

- Insect repellent. For the best possible protection against mosquitoes and other insects, you should apply the insect repellent to both your skin and your clothing, according to the label instructions.

- Footwear. You’ll be doing lots of walking and hiking and you’ll want the most comfortable boots possible. In addition, if there’s the possibility that you will be trekking through marsh or extremely damp conditions, you should take along a pair of knee-high rubber boots and an extra pair of socks.

- Rain gear. Weather conditions can change quickly so you want to be prepared for possible rainfalls. A lightweight, waterproof, breathable piece of rain wear could be indispensable.

- Snacks. These are for you, not the birds. Take along some high energy store bought or home made granola bars, fruits, and nuts and you’ll be good to go. Be sure to have plenty of water and avoid sugary snacks.

If you survive and enjoy your first outing and feel that you’ll definitely be doing this again, then the manufactures of birding supplies will love you as you will undoubtedly be back in their stores to buy cameras, recorders, and other high priced items in preparation for your next trip.

Believe it or not your backyard can be a paradise for birds. Adding a bit of wild living to your backyard day to day is easier than you think. It doesn’t really matter where you live or what kind of home you live in, if you have a window to the world, you can take a shot at bringing nature a bit closer to home. Hanging a bird feeder or even better – a selection of bird feeders – within sight of your window is a great way to transform your indoors by bringing them just a little bit closer to the outdoors. If you have kids, they’ll love it. Forget about television – cardinals, jays, sparrows and finches can become the stars of breakfast time. They come for a snack, they sing, they fight, they fall in love. Over the course of the season, a real scene can develop. With a little help your back yard can be a wonderful place for birds.

If you Feed Them, They will Come

You have heard the saying build it and they will come. Don’t believe that the birds will really come to your house in the treeless suburbs or downtown core? Try it. Hang your feeder in a protected, but visible spot. Birds are skittish and they like to feel safe. In fact, plunking a feeder right in the middle of your backyard or attaching it directly to a window, may be a surefire way to keep most of the shier birds away. Even the prospect of a free meal won’t be enough to get their courage up. If you live in an apartment, create your own wildlife sanctuary on the balcony. Wait for it to catch some lucky bird’s eye and then let nature take it’s course. What happens next is interesting. Sooner or later, word gets around. Perhaps the most surprising thing about efforts to attract birds in apparently bird less areas, is that it works. The variety and number of species in urban areas is often astounding. Don’t give up. It can sometimes take weeks for your fine feathered friends to discover their free lunch. But don’t give up they will come.

Don’t want a free for all? Choose the type of birds you prefer to attract and set out specialized bird feeders just for them.. There are hummingbird feeders, finch feeders, winter bird feeders, and even spring loaded feeders that shut off the food supply when the big bully birds come around. Do a bit of research on the type of birds you want to attract as they will favor certain foods over others. Jays will go for corn while hummingbirds love a mixture of sugar and water. Goldfinches love feeders with nyjer seeds.

Once you get started, there are plenty of ways to enhance your mini bird sanctuary that will make it more inviting for the birds and more enjoyable for birdwatchers. For instance, consider offsetting the feeder with a birdbath or adding plants to your garden that provide additional food sources. Create a seating area where you can see the birds that come to visit. Buy some books that will help you identify some of the many species that show up and keep them near your viewing area. Now just sit back and enjoy.

If you have a bird bath remember to keep it clean and if you live in areas where water freezes during the winter, you may consider buying a heating element to keep the water from freezing.

E

E

Bird watching is a fun and relaxing experience that can take you to different places and allow you to get a glimpse at the survival techniques that different birds utilize for nesting and raising their young, socializing and finding food, or singing to attract friends and mates. Birding is a way to get away from everyday stress and enjoy the wonders of nature. Ways to get the most out of your bird watching experience involve knowing what gear to bring, times of day that birds are most active, and knowing tips for identifying the birds and still have a comfortable and enjoyable time.

Beginning Bird Watching:

For beginners, consider teaming up with some one who is birder or if possible a professional bird watcher. There are groups you can join, such as the Audubon Society or American Birdwatching Association. Not only do they offer magazines, articles and books, but they also have a list of birds you can look for. Sometimes, they have field trips you can go on to get some experience in bird watching. If you are familiar with your surroundings you may want to take a short trip by your self.

When and Where To See Birds:

You can see birds at different times of the day, but certain birds have times they are more active. For example, songbirds start singing and eating two to three hours before sunset. Right after the sunrise, eagles and hawks get active because they soar in the warmer, thermal air currents. Owls are more active at night when they are looking for food with their night vision, and shorebirds feed after high tide. Birds that are nesting and feeding their young often are busy all day because of the demands of their young.

Watching Birds At Feeding Time:

You can offer bird seed, water and shelter for birds in your backyard or garden and attract birds to watch. You can also find them in their natural habitat, eating the foods they would normally eat. Songbirds like seed and many bird types like nyjer, millet and sunflower seeds. Peanut butter attracts a lot of birds like cardinals, woodpeckers and nuthatches, although they also like suet. Hummingbirds are especially drawn to red and like sugar water in feeders. Though it is not healthy for hummingbirds, some people add a small amount of red food coloring to the sugar water. Birdbaths offer birds a place to drink water and to cool off during the summer.

Looking For Breeding Birds:

Unlike humans, birds breed according to specific seasons. Additionally, some migrate before having their young. The majority of birds breed in the spring and summer so that the babies are ready for fall migration. In the fall, some birds are more difficult to identify as some get heavier feathering and duller colors for migration.

Spotting and Identifying Birds:

Birds are easily alarmed, so you need to move stealthily. To help you identify a bird, you will want to pay attention to certain hints such as: its habitat, plumage and color, behavior, silhouette and the songs or calls it makes. Also, looking at the beaks can give you a clue and watching what they are doing with it. Woodpeckers have rigid beaks for chipping wood, while hawks, eagles and owls have sharply hooked beaks for tearing up prey. Most backyard birds like cardinals, finches and sparrows have conical beaks while shorebirds have long, slender bills for digging in the sand and prying open shells.

Bird Watching Gear To Bring and Wear:

Of course, binoculars, cameras and something for taking notes is something you need. You may want to keep track of the time of day and activity you witnessed particular birds. You may also want to write down characteristics of the birds you are not familiar with so that you can look them up later, or take along a bird identification guidebook.

Being able to blend in your surroundings is important, so dress in dull colors. Camouflage is the thing to keep in mind to see the most birds. Also, fabrics that rustle, snag or squeak will scare birds off. You may want to have boots, warm clothing and rain gear. Night vision binoculars are especially useful for seeing owls as they are usually only seen and heard at night. You might want to consider a hand-held recorder for songs and chirps of birds that you don’t recognize to look up later.

After Your Bird Watching Experience:

Take advantage of the time after birding to review your notes and try to identify the birds you were unable to name during your outing. You may want to get a tape of different bird songs and calls to assist with identification. Using a field guide can be extremely helpful for matching what you saw with detailed pictures and specific characteristics.

You can spend many enjoyable hours birding without spending very much on special equipment.

Bird watching or birders, are they the same? Birders exhibit extreme interest, education and travel. While one might say that bird watching as a hobby is less intense, more relaxed, love seeing and identifying birds but also enjoy being outside and exploring nature.

The Birders

In the U.S. or just about anywhere else , what birders do is not just a pastime or a relaxation thing. For them, they study not only the species of birds but their nesting habits, migration and their life. They use the best in optical equipment, binoculars, telescopes and cameras to study the intricate life of birds from the building of the nest until the young are fledged, the on through migration.

Instead of going to the nearby places to observe and study the life of birds, Birders often travel to other places near and far to see various birds in different habitats. They write and record their findings in detail. They often stay at one place several days to get the largest bird count they can get.

The Birdwatchers

These people, bird watchers, go out and enjoy being out with nature and depend on their eyes to do the work. Some will carry binoculars but others not. They are not interested on new technology of the latest fad in outdoor clothing. They are there to have fun and watch and identify birds. It is relaxing for them, especially if they are with friends.

They can go anywhere and have fun bird watching. May it be in a nearby park, a game preserve or their own backyard. Some will have fun bird watching on a family vacation or on a short hike near a local stream. Some enjoy it while fishing or hunting. Just to be there and see a bird and have a pretty good idea what species it is. They don’t need to know the migratory or breeding habits to enjoy birdwatching. Just be there.

The Right Time

The time to observe birds depends on where you live. The fall and spring are the best if you live along one of the major flyways for migration. There is an eastern flyway that goes along the east coast, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and on into Mexico then on into central and South America. Another flyway is in the central part of the U. S. that starts in Canada and goes down the central part if the U.S. on through Texas the on southward, The same pattern is along the west coast that eventually leads into Mexico and southward. This migration happens in the fall and spring and gives one an opportunity to see many migratory birds as well as those who do not migrate.

Early morning is the best time to see and study birds. During breeding season usually both parents are busy finding food for their young. This can be an on going process for the parent birds because the young are growing rapidly and need food quite often. The late afternoon before sunset is also a prime time to see birds.

Observing birds along the costal waters and be fun. You see an entirely different kind of bird and they are fun to watch. Especially the brown and white pecicans as they skim across the water in a very tight formation just inches from the water but their wings never touch the water. Then there are the ever present gulls. terns.herons egrets, ibis’ and the beautiful roseate spoonbill. Along the sandy beaches are tiny sand pipers that run very fast as each wave recedes and they run very fast to find some small sand creature that has been exposed by the rushing water of each out going wave.
Proper Etiquette

When birding or bird watching always be aware of what is best for our birds. Be conscious of conservation and do not do anything to mar the beautiful surroundings around you. Try to keep things as you found them or better if you can.

Be conscious of the gift we have with birds and other wildlife and treat is with respect.

Over your cup of morning coffee, you glance outside and what you see takes your breath away. It’s some sort of… Well, it’s got a blue back and… It’s a bird that’s making a sweet sound… You don’t know exactly what it is! You slam your coffee mug on the table and run two rooms away to the den to start rifling through the bookshelf. Somewhere you’ve got the Peterson Field Guide to Birds. You finally find it! You run back to the kitchen, flipping through the index to find what you think it might be and… The bird is gone.

It would have been nice to tell your spouse which pretty bird the seed he or she picked out was attracting, but you don’t remember enough details about the little guy that you could look it up now that you finally have the book in hand. Was it a Mountain Bluebird or a Western Bluebird? Or another bird entirely?

You love the Peterson Field Guide, but it’s never right there when you need it the most. If only you could bring up an interactive guide of the most common birds in your area at the push of a button. If only that book came with a sound sample of each bird’s call so that you could easily identify a bird without even needing a close look before it flies away.

The future of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds is now! Sign up for the official Peterson Mobile Field Guide to Backyard Birds, available for any mobile phone with Internet access on any carrier. For an incredibly low monthly fee, you’ll have a completely interactive Peterson Field Guide to Birds, complete with the listings of twenty of the most common birds in your area. And you can update the ZIP code each month if you travel frequently and receive data for twenty more birds in that area!

The mobile guide even comes complete with feeding advice so you know how to attract those backyard birds you’ve longed to see. Take quizzes to test and foster your bird identification skills and get mobile access to official Peterson range maps, too!

All birds listed in the Peterson Mobile Field Guide to Backyard Birds come complete with crystal-clear pictures and arrows pointing out key features to help you identify the bird. If your cell phone supports streaming sound, you can even sign up for an identifying bird calls feature! [DRG1]

Recently the Peterson Field Guide celebrated the 100th year since the birth of its founder, Roger Tory Peterson, with a special edition of the well-loved Peterson Field Guide to Birds that’s sold over 10 million copies. There’s only one place to get the official Peterson Mobile Field Guide to Backyard Birds, so check it out now and start learning about the birds you love. You can get the same images, maps and text you find in the Peterson Field Guide and now have it always handy on your cell phone.

If you’re one of the 47.7 million people in the US who loves to watch birds and you’ve put your fair share of money down towards feeding them—like a part of the $3.4 billion Americans spent on feeding wildlife in 2006—then this is the perfect investment for you! It’ll make your backyard bird-watching so much easier, you’ll wonder how people ever managed “back in the day” much easier, you’ll wonder how people ever managed “back in the day” when paper books were their only option!

It is a popular hobby across the world. There are thousands of groups dedicated to watching birds
at nature preserves, parks and recreational centers and even large groups that have annual conventions. You may be an individual dedicated to bird watching
and enjoy going to parks on the weekends to observe birds. It is a fun and interesting hobby for anyone.

Bird watching is relaxing. It is a very simple form of pleasure. Birds are symbols of love, hope and happiness. They remind us of simpler times before, TV, radios, videos and malls. Birds gently remind us to slow down and appreciate the simpler aspects of life.

There are so many beautiful birds to observe, your efforts to see them all may be difficult. Some people keep track of the variety of species that they see and keep a journal. It is a never ending pursuit, as you could travel the world and still not see them all. Some people combine bird watching with other activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking and white water rafting. It is a great activity that will bring you back to nature.

Birds are beautiful creatures. So many of them are brightly colored and fun to watch and observe. They seem to glide effortlessly through the air as they soar and swoop down for food and rest.

And, their melodic voices are a treasure to listen to. You may hear a squawk or a shrill from some birds. But, some birds some chirpy and sweet as they sing you to work in the morning. Some people record their sounds and play them for relaxation.

If you are looking for a fun, educational and safe activity for your children bird watching is a great, fun activity for everyone. Birds are sweet and harmless. It is a great educational activity for your children to do and they may learn something!

Bird watching also calls attention to species and naturists keep track of what species may be declining. Conservationists keep track of behavioral patterns and migration information so they are able to track birds and maintain up to date records.

Conservation starts at home. It is recommended that children learn about birds so that they are aware of the importance of conservation and protecting our environment. It will increase children’s awareness of the natural beauty of parks, wildlife, oceans, lakes, mountains and trails. Children learn through doing and what better way to learn about blue birds than to actually observe one in their natural habitat.

Bird watching is also a very inexpensive activity that involves little to no money. You may want to invest in a pair of binoculars but, other than that, the activity is not costly.

Birds really are great fun and bird watching is just a great way to get out of the house and into the country to enjoy the wonders of nature in it natural environment And you get the added benefit of seeing all the local birds in the area you visit.

When you see birds flying around and doing what birds do, even if they are just at your garden bird feeders or nearby bird houses, you will that a fascinating experience that already provides great enjoyment to many other birders like yourself.

Have Much More Fun By Going Bird Watching!

Birding is now a very popular hobby, in fact it is the fastest growing hobby next to gardening and more birders are joining in every year. Due to increases in available time for other activities many of us now have the time to go birding.

Many of us also realize that being interested in the natural world will provide a better appreciation for the environment and the habitat in which birds live. Habitat conservation is going to be key as human populations explode and critical environments disappear.

Before going off on their first birding trips new birders should learn some of the basics for successful bird watching to avoid the potential for disappointment. Having a bird feeder or bird house in the back yard is a great idea, but to see more birds you need to visit their local habitat to find them.

You Must Be There At Dawn To See More Birds!

In order to see the greatest number of birds possible an early start is imperative as this when the birds are most active. Wherever your birding trip takes you, you will always have more success early in the morning even if it is in your yard, in a local park or woods or on a beach. Birds rise early while it is cool to find food for their young if it is nesting season and when the day becomes warmer they tend to remain the shade until late in the afternoon.

After a good rest you will need to be prepared to get up very early and be on location at dawn. This will ensure you get to the right place before the birds become active and your arrival will not disturb them. The couple of hours or so after dawn are the busiest time for birds and you will surprised at how many you see. If you arrive late you will see less birds.

Clothes with bright colors must be left at home,

Bright colored clothes will scare the birds as they will see you easier always wear dark clothing and take avoiding action by diving into the nearest bushes as soon as they detect your movements and because of this you will not see many birds.

As a birder you should try and wear clothing that has a more natural and darker color that fits in with the area and foliage where you will be bird watching.

It is a great idea to wear anything that will camouflage you when in the birds habitat while bird watching. Get the ultimate gear if you want to see the biggest number of birds or when you go into an area where birds are nervous and difficult to see.

Keep The Noise Down Or You Will Scare The Birds!

While you are bird watching always move slowly and above all quietly. If you are with a friend and continuously talking you will never see many birds as the noise you make will scare them off and the fact that you are talking will drown out any noise the birds might make so you will never hear them either. It best to go heel first to prevent breaking twigs and sticks.

So if you have to communicate with other birders with you just whisper quietly and when close to birds you are trying to see use hand signals or gestures to indicate where the birds are, but do not move you arms around to point out locations as if the birds see this then they will be gone!

Try and remain behind larger things like tree trunks and bushes so that the birds do not see your silhouette or any movement as this will disturb them and they might leave in a hurry.

Stay On The Trail To Minimize Disturbance

You will avoid disturbing the birds by staying on the trail and by not trying to go through the undergrowth. Also you should never try to flush out a bird or chase them in any way as this could put stress on the birds you are trying to see and force them to flee.

The best way to see birds is to let them come to you and if you find a good location and make yourself comfortable this will happen and can sometimes give the best views. A bird feeder and bird houses in your back yard is also a great idea as again lets the birds come to you and over time they will become less nervous.

Do not approach birds too closely especially during the spring and summer breading season and definitely do not go near their nests.

Get Binoculars Or A Scope For Better Birding

It is easy and safer to see birds from a distance and this is why you should invest in a good pair of binoculars and as you get more serious about watching birds you might also want to buy a spotting scope to get the closest views of birds possible.

If you are a lover of nature then bird watching can be extremely enjoyable. It does not have to be expensive and although birding can become a bit of a challenge it always remains great fun.

It is easy to begin by just putting up bird feeders and bird houses for nesting in your yard and get enjoyment from watching the birds as they come and go.

Make Sure You Enjoy The Birds Wherever You Go!