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5 Tips for Successful Bird Watching
Chuck Fitzgerald C2004. All Rights Reserved.
Can you name the number one spectator sport in North America?
It's not baseball, figure skating or racing. It's bird watching.
That's right, more people are watching birds than football and
hockey combined. With so many people hoping to see a bird they've
never seen before, it's not surprising to see a clamoring for the
latest tips and tools to get the job done. Here are my top five
tips for getting the most out of your birding experience.
#1. Get to Where the Birds Are! This sounds obvious, but many
birders spend the majority of their bird watching time and energy
on poor locations. Some folk have the advantage of looking out of
their windows into the back yard to observe nature's best. The
rest of us need to get moving. I would highly recommend visiting
a National Wildlife Refuge. There are over 500 of them across the
United States. To find one near you, visit http://refuges.fws.gov/
#2. Know What Species to Expect. There are approximately 900
species of birds in the United States and recognizing each of
them is nearly impossible. So when you visit an area, do a little
research first. You may find that perhaps only a few species
actually inhabit that particular area. With a little preparation,
you will be able to more readily identify bird species from each
other. Keep a list of successfully viewed species - we'll call
this tip number two and a half.
#3. Get a Great Pair of Binoculars. Spending time and money to get
to the right place can be totally wasted when your binoculars are
inadequate. If you have an inexpensive pair of binoculars you are
not getting the most out of your viewing. Today's technologies
come at a price and they provide crucial benefits in wildlife
viewing. For instance, image stabilization will keep your view
from shaking-very important when watching from a long distance.
Other cool features include anti-fogging, low-light viewing and
wide-view characteristics. Additionally, binoculars with built-in
digital cameras enable you to identify birds once you get home.
These benefits will definitely enhance your bird watching. A
great pair of binoculars will turn a mediocre experience into a
great one. You can count on it!
#4. Practice Before You Go. A key to viewing wildlife, and
especially birds, is to have the ability to very quickly put
your binoculars on target. Many people have difficulty finding
a full moon in a pair of binoculars-but alas-learning to focus
on a bird in a bush or track a bird in flight is easy for
someone who has practiced prior to their outing. Try this before
you go; lower your binoculars to your side and very quickly
raise them to find and follow a jet airliner across the sky.
After only a few attempts, you'll get good at quickly acquiring
your target. Quite often, birds are visible for only a few
seconds, practice to become proficient.
#5. Take Someone with You. Life is always better when shared.
Not only do you get to spend time out of doors with
someone you like, but they might alert you to the "Number One
Sight of the Day." Share your birding experiences with your
friends and family. Pass the birding excitement to a child.
The best part about wildlife viewing is that you the viewer,
control almost every aspect of the experience. The more you are
prepared, the more rewarding your time in our backcountry will
be. Follow these 5 simple tips to get the most out of birding.
Get Outdoors!
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About the author: Chuck Fitzgerald is the President of Arizona
based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry
specialty gear and educational information for outdoor
enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free
newsletter "FreshAir" or call (800) 316-9055.
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