How To Get Started In The World Of Bird Watching
Bird watching or Birding, the way it is called amongst those who practice this activity, is an observational pastime that has garnered quite a lot of followers around the world and that is considered by some as “the greatest pursuit” available to citizens of the modern world. Bird Watching is something that will definitely bring you closer to nature and an activity you can share with loved ones of all ages.
Living near Washington, D.C. is great for those who like birding or for those who are curious about it and perhaps want to take up a new hobby that doesn’t require much investment, but that can guarantee you a lifetime of fun, learning and beautiful experiences in the outdoors.
Bird Watching is something that has been going on for a long time and an activity to which books, conventions, festivals and clubs have been dedicated with passion by its many practitioners. Today in Sudir Raju’s Blog we want to talk a bit about birding, tell you how you can get into it and also how those of us living near D.C. Maryland or Virginia, are specially privileged if we decide to give it a go.
Getting Started
Getting started is not that difficult and birding is something you can pick up today. Here are some of our recommendations:
Grab a guide. The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America is one of the best books that you can pick up to get started. Here you will find all of the birds you can find in the United States with excellent illustrations that make it easier to identify, migration patterns, habits, diets and in some cases even detailed descriptions of their calls and songs. A good field guide is probably one of the best investments you can make when getting started since not only it allows you identify the birds you see, but it also allows you to study beforehand the different species and learn about bird families.
Binoculars. Right next to your guide this is another important piece of equipment you need to get started with birding. Binoculars or monocular are devices that allow you to get a closer look at the birds but without scaring them away. You do not have to buy anything fancy, as a pair of 10x binoculars is enough to get you started until you figure out if this is the hobby for you. Some birdwatchers prefer to use a monocular because it is easier to focus and they are lighter and take up less space.
Recording your sightings. Some bird watchers like to keep a notebook where they record their sightings, while some use their guides to check off the birds they have watched and to look for some other ones. One of the best methods to record your achievements is by actually photographing the birds you see. Mixing photography with bird watching is a great idea, even if it costs a little bit of money if you do not have your own photographic equipment already. To photograph birds you are going to need lenses with a long focal length that do the part of your binoculars and allow you to get right next to the action.
Finding the birds
Here you can go two different routes, you could have the birds come to you or you can go out and find them.
If you want to have the birds come to you then you have to set up birdseed according to the species that are available close to your location and their diet. Some birds will not be interested in the seed at all so you can use a birdbath instead so you can watch them bathe and drink water.
The real hobby is all about going out there and finding the birds. One recommendation is to do your homework and study up the birds that are common in your area considering their migratory patterns and the time of the year so you can focus on a particular one and go out and find it.
Washington, D.C. is a great place to go out and find birds and you can do it without actually having to leave town or even drive far away. The D.C. public transportation system is actually enough for you to get to some of the best spots around the city for bird watching. Theodore Roosevelt Island is a prime example of a place you can easily visit and where you can find many species of native birds. Other areas of interest are Hans Point, Constitution Garden, Kenilworth Park and even the National Zoo.
Remember the Internet is another great resource not just to find information on birding, but also to find other fellow bird watchers and learn even more by visiting shows and participating in local workshops.
