Birdwatching is a pastime that can be enjoyed by even the newest bird enthusiasts. Here's what you need to know about birdwatching.
Get some gear together
You always have the option of birdwatching from your backyard, but if you want to see some new birds and really plan on getting into the activity, you should go out and get the proper birdwatching equipment.
The first thing you need for your birdwatching adventures is a pair of good binoculars. Binoculars are a necessary tool and will make your birdwatching experience that much more enjoyable. Most birders recommend that you get a pair of binoculars that don't exceed a power level of seven. This is a high enough power to meet your needs and isn't so powerful that it's overwhelming. To get a good pair of binoculars, you'll need to spend a couple of hundred dollars. It's important that you get your own binoculars though because it's not fun and incredibly difficult to share binoculars with another birder.
If you're serious about birdwatching and making progress while on your birdwatching adventures, you should get a field guide and a field notebook. The guide will help you distinguish one bird from another. The notebook is where you can record the birds that you see, when you see them and where you see them. Basically these two materials will help you keep records so you can remember which birds you saw and where you saw them.
The last birdwatching item will address is clothing. No, you don't have to look great when you go birdwatching, but you need to be prepared. Chances are you'll be making your way though wood, marshes or prairie land and you need to be properly dressed. Field guides and notebooks should be kept in plastic bags to protect them from water. You should also read about the area you're about to explore and take all of the precautionary clothing measures before you head out. You do not want to get caught without a poncho if it starts to rain and you don’t want to be roaming around an area with prickly shrubs if you're wearing short boots.
Birdwatching is a good excuse to travel
Birdwatching is one actively that can take you around the world. There are birds in Florida that you can't see in California and birds in Venezuela that you would never see anywhere in the United States. So, if you've got the travel bug and have an interest in birds, you might want to consider combining the two hobbies. Every destination that you go birdwatching will have something new and exciting to offer.
