Birding

D

Habitat

Birds tend to live in a particular habitat, from grasslands or evergreen forests to shrubby thickets or marshes. Learning these habitat associations helps birders distinguish between similar-looking birds that prefer different habitats. Habitat is a good indicator, but it is not an infallible identification characteristic. Birds do show up in odd places.

VII

Birding Ethics

The ABA recommends that birders follow a code of ethics intended to protect birds and their habitats as well as the rights of property owners and outdoor enthusiasts. Birders should care for the welfare of birds by protecting important bird habitats, by staying on designated trails to avoid disrupting wild habitats, and by not frightening birds out of trees or exposing them to danger in order to obtain a better view. During group outings, birders need to lessen or prevent the impact of a large group of people on the wilderness environment.

Birders should limit the use of bird sound recordings and other methods to attract birds, particularly in areas with many other birders. These methods should never be used to attract birds that are considered threatened or endangered because bringing these birds more into the open may needlessly stress them and negatively affect their breeding behavior. It may also place them at higher risk from predators. The presence of rare birds should only be advertised to other birders if the area can be accessed with minimal disturbance to the bird. The nesting sites of rare birds should not be made public. Instead, birders should report the site to conservation authorities, such as the state or provincial department of wildlife.

Birders also need to respect other humans as well as birds. They should not enter private property without permission, and they need to follow all the laws and regulations governing the use of roads and public areas. Birders should behave courteously to other birders and people with whom they share the wilderness.

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VIII

Equipment and Resources

Birding requires only a few basic tools. Binoculars bring the physical details of a far-off bird into focus. Beginners can have good results with inexpensive binoculars, although the most exacting birders often select expensive high-performance models. When using binoculars, avoid searching trees with binoculars. Instead, first search for a bird without binoculars. When a bird comes into view, keep the head still and raise the binoculars to the eyes to bring the bird into focus. Practice this technique to locate stationary objects, such as a tree branch, first. Locate larger objects with binoculars and then try finding smaller objects. Intermediate and advanced birders may want to use a spotting scope—a small telescope mounted on a tripod. Spotting scopes are ideal for viewing birds on the ground or on water, such as shorebirds and waterfowl. Camera equipment is a must for those who have discovered the joys of bird photography.

In learning about birds, nothing substitutes for field experience, but there are other useful aids. The one indispensable tool is a good field guide, featuring detailed illustrations or photos of birds, range maps, and descriptive text. A good field guide will also provide clear identification clues and characteristic bird behaviors. A bird-finding guide that focuses on birds living in the birder’s geographic area during all seasons will help birders find the best places to view birds.

Many organizations provide support, information, and volunteer opportunities for birders. Chapters of the National Audubon Society, state and local bird clubs, and adult education programs frequently offer bird identification classes, public lectures on birds and birding, publications, and field trips. The American Birding Association serves dedicated birders in both Canada and the United States through its publications, conferences, scholarships for young birders, directory of volunteer opportunities, research programs, and other activities. This organization helps birders develop identification skills, test these skills in the field, and learn to practice careful record keeping and sound birding ethics. Bird Studies Canada, based in Ontario, Canada, and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology recruit volunteers to participate in local, regional, national, and international programs of research and education in support of bird conservation. The data collected by these volunteers help scientists track movements of bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.