9 replies to this topic

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Since the forum has been slow recently I thought I'd put together a birding (birdwatching) topic. I hope you all find this interesting and entertaining. First off let's go over the basics of birding.

 

 

1. Vocabulary

 

Birding = Birdwatching

Birder = Someone who watches birds

Lifer = A bird you haven't seen before

Life List = A list of all the birds you've ever observed usually tracked using Ebird

Ebird = An app made by Cornell university that tracks your location and allows you to report bird during an outing.

 

 

2. Basic Birding Ethics

 

When birding the goal should be to either observe, photograph, or record the birds without disturbing them. Some unethical birders will use a camera flash to photograph owls at night or make bird fly off to get a better angle on an image. Littering is a violation of any good birders philosophy. A good saying for all birders is "Leave no trace" or "Take only photographs". 

 

 

3. How Do You Bird?

 

Birding can be whatever you want it to be. You could just look at your yard birds with some binoculars and be content. You could go on long trips to Costa Rica with thousands in camera gear and Swarovski binoculars. Personally I do my birding in my yard or on trips whenever I can. I use a mid quality set of binoculars ($150) and a simple yet effective camera setup ($200). Birding can be dirt-cheap of cost thousands. It just depends on what you like to do. 

 

 

4. Where Should I Go To Bird?

 

Anywhere! You could go to the coast, mountains, suburbs, scrub lands, ocean, etc. Any state, any country, any season, birds can and will be found if you look. 

 

 

5. Why Should I Bird?

 

Birding can be a very relaxing hobby that promotes healthy habits like going outside and enjoying nature. It raises environment awareness through observations you make yourself. You may notice an invasive species bullying native species and realize how harmful they can be. You may see garbage all around nature and disapprove. Birding also has some aspects similar to ant keeping. Both birding and ant keeping have variety, interesting observations, searching for new things, and meeting others into the same things. If you like ant keeping birding could be your next hobby!

 

 

5. How Do I learn More?

 

I recommend going to BirdForum. BirdForum has lots of knowledgeable people who have been birding longer than I've been alive! I go by OrnithologyDevotee on BirdForum. Youtube has a lot of good YouTubers such as Bagerland Birding, The Dutch Birder, Hummingbird Spot, The Birding Voyage, Tim Siggs, Lesley The Bird Nerd, Doug Hitchcox, and more!

 

 

6. My Photography

 

Currently I use an old Nikon D300 with a 70-300mm lens for my bird photography. These are some of my favorite photos I've taken recently. I have a lot more but these are the highlights. My life list is now 49!

 

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Red-whiskered Bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus at The Huntington Botanical Gardens. They are an invasive, yet beautiful species.

 

Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Orange-crowned Warbler, Leiothlypis celata at The Huntington Botanical Gardens. Warblers are one of my favorite types of birds!

[AntBoi3030]

Beautiful pictures! This is definitely one of those hobbies that are just good for you. 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Beautiful pictures! This is definitely one of those hobbies that are just good for you. 

Thank you! I like how it gets me traveling more. I'm going down to San Diego and San Luis Obispo next month and a Korea trip with my friend in July! All for seeing birds.

[rptraut]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

I've enjoyed nature, and birds in particular, since I was a kid.    I was fascinated as I watched birds return in spring, build their nests and raise brood.   I saw those fledglings learn to find food and survive.   I would encourage everyone to consult the Cornell Labs site for general bird information, especially if you need help with identification.    https://www.allabout...rg/guide/search

 

 

 

Fox sparrows are seasonal visitors to our bird feeders as they refuel and continue on with their migration.   

 

 

We should all do as much as we can to improve our environment for birds.    We have three acres in the country where we've tried to create a sanctuary for birds, but we're surrounded by acres of agricultural fields that provide little or no habitat for birds or any wildlife.   By planting various types of trees, shrubs, and food plants in our gardens we try to provide elements necessary for birds to thrive.    

 

 

 

I don't have a formal life list, but being able to observe Bluebirds, attracted to the Arboretum where I volunteer, was definitely one of the highlights of my birding life. 

 

 

We've promoted the kinds of elements that encourage birds by providing input into the development of public areas such as our Arboretum, Community Center and school properties.   We educate through our Horticultural Society and home school groups.    Consider what you can do to improve the habitat for birds and wildlife.  

 

 

 

 

When we began to develop our gardens, we decided to focus on plants and plantings that would encourage butterflies and hummingbirds like this Ruby-throated immature male.   

 

 

We have plantings that provide food, shelter, hiding places, and nesting sites for a wide variety of birds.  There are nesting boxes, and we maintain bird feeders of many types.   Our tall spruce trees are favourite nesting places for Grackles and Sparrows while Turkey vultures often roost in those trees at night.    Monarchs roost there too on their annual migration.   Thick cedars and other shrubs provide cover and nesting sites for Cardinals, Catbirds, Thrashers, and nesting boxes are used by Screech Owls, Flickers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Wrens, Flycatchers and Deer Mice.   

 

Food producing shrubs like Serviceberry, Chokecherry, red and black Elderberries, Dogwood, Raspberries and my fruit trees provide medium height cover, a transition zone between the tall trees and the plantings on the ground.    Our dog protects our birds from predators like outdoor cats.   The reward for all this effort is that our property is animated with the activity and songs of birds making our time outside interesting and entertaining.   We love our birds.   

 

 

 

 

The flowers in our gardens attract many pollinators, various kinds of bees, butterflies and even a Hummingbird Moth.   

 

 

I encourage you to think about the ways you can improve the habitat for birds in your neighborhood.   Think of it as improving the environment for nature's outdoor entertainment!

RPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gcsnelling]

I enjoy watching, trying to photograph birds, The app Merlin is a big help at time although you must use the Ids provided with caution. However I make a distinction between birds and true bird watchers. I am sure my next comment is going to ruffle a few feathers but I tend to define birders as those that are rude and do not follow any of the "rules" for responsible bird watching.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

GASP! A CANADIAN GOOSE, HERE IN CANADA THEY WILL TRY TO STEAL YOUR SOUL AND HARASS YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT TOO CLOSE.

 

Anyways, nice photos I think the hobby is nice, in fact, I also love photography and I want to start doing it soon. Some of the Canadian geese have already returned to Canada.

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, Yesterday, 4:57 AM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I enjoy watching, trying to photograph birds, The app Merlin is a big help at time although you must use the Ids provided with caution. However I make a distinction between birds and true bird watchers. I am sure my next comment is going to ruffle a few feathers but I tend to define birders as those that are rude and do not follow any of the "rules" for responsible bird watching.

Honestly I have to disagree. I know many "birders" who go out, travel, and observe birds in a respectful manner. I also run into many "birders" who are kind and point out interesting birds they saw in the area. Of course a few bad apples exist. Such as those who scare off rarities by trying to get a good photo. In my opinion a "bird watcher" is someone who appreciates wildlife and has begun to observe birds. A "birder" is usually (not always) someone who is much more into birds and visits places to observe new birds. 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

GASP! A CANADIAN GOOSE, HERE IN CANADA THEY WILL TRY TO STEAL YOUR SOUL AND HARASS YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT TOO CLOSE.

 

Anyways, nice photos I think the hobby is nice, in fact, I also love photography and I want to start doing it soon. Some of the Canadian geese have already returned to Canada.

Honestly, that's probably because Canada Geese are very aggressive. It's more for your safety than theirs. I've seen some Canada Geese attack people before.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

I've enjoyed nature, and birds in particular, since I was a kid.    I was fascinated as I watched birds return in spring, build their nests and raise brood.   I saw those fledglings learn to find food and survive.   I would encourage everyone to consult the Cornell Labs site for general bird information, especially if you need help with identification.    https://www.allabout...rg/guide/search

 

 

IMG_7314.JPG

 

Fox sparrows are seasonal visitors to our bird feeders as they refuel and continue on with their migration.   

 

 

We should all do as much as we can to improve our environment for birds.    We have three acres in the country where we've tried to create a sanctuary for birds, but we're surrounded by acres of agricultural fields that provide little or no habitat for birds or any wildlife.   By planting various types of trees, shrubs, and food plants in our gardens we try to provide elements necessary for birds to thrive.    

 

 

IMG_7038.JPG

 

I don't have a formal life list, but being able to observe Bluebirds, attracted to the Arboretum where I volunteer, was definitely one of the highlights of my birding life. 

 

 

We've promoted the kinds of elements that encourage birds by providing input into the development of public areas such as our Arboretum, Community Center and school properties.   We educate through our Horticultural Society and home school groups.    Consider what you can do to improve the habitat for birds and wildlife.  

 

 

 

IMG_6526.JPG

 

When we began to develop our gardens, we decided to focus on plants and plantings that would encourage butterflies and hummingbirds like this Ruby-throated immature male.   

 

 

We have plantings that provide food, shelter, hiding places, and nesting sites for a wide variety of birds.  There are nesting boxes, and we maintain bird feeders of many types.   Our tall spruce trees are favourite nesting places for Grackles and Sparrows while Turkey vultures often roost in those trees at night.    Monarchs roost there too on their annual migration.   Thick cedars and other shrubs provide cover and nesting sites for Cardinals, Catbirds, Thrashers, and nesting boxes are used by Screech Owls, Flickers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Wrens, Flycatchers and Deer Mice.   

 

Food producing shrubs like Serviceberry, Chokecherry, red and black Elderberries, Dogwood, Raspberries and my fruit trees provide medium height cover, a transition zone between the tall trees and the plantings on the ground.    Our dog protects our birds from predators like outdoor cats.   The reward for all this effort is that our property is animated with the activity and songs of birds making our time outside interesting and entertaining.   We love our birds.   

 

 

 

IMG_7601.JPG

 

The flowers in our gardens attract many pollinators, various kinds of bees, butterflies and even a Hummingbird Moth.   

 

 

I encourage you to think about the ways you can improve the habitat for birds in your neighborhood.   Think of it as improving the environment for nature's outdoor entertainment!

RPT

Incredibly well said! I agree with everything you have stated. I have many feeders setup in my yard for hummingbirds and urban birds. I also don't spray pesticides on the lawn so the birds can eat the bugs. Though around the house is sprayed because my family is deathly afraid of spiders. Sadly I don't have as many birds that someone in the woods would have. It's interesting because over the past few years you notice things. Some birding spots have less of one thing and more of another (usually house finches). There are many non-profits you can support such as the ABA and the Audubon society. The more I read about extinct birds the more I realize the stories are similar. Almost always related to human greed or human expansion. I got gifted a book called "atlas of extinct animals" some time ago and found it quite interesting.

[rptraut]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

It must be obvious by my comments that I have a deep respect for nature, and I've spent most of my life promoting its preservation and conservation.    Just like canaries in coal mines used to warn the miners of poisonous gas by dying before the miners did, I feel indicators of our planet's health, like birds, show us that our planet is suffering by their declining numbers and diversity.    We should never forget that we depend on nature and natural processes for fresh air, clean water, food, shelter and disposal of our waste.   

 

Nature needs us to nurture it and strike a healthy balance between humanity, and the resources required to support the human population that, I fear, has already passed the tipping point for long-term sustainability on this planet.   But that doesn't stop me from planting trees and doing whatever I can to promote the expansion, preservation, and conservation of the natural resources that remain.  If we each do our part, we can have a positive impact.

RPT