Perhaps you have always loved birding but have not had the time to really learn how it’s done. Are you currently considering a camping trip where you could enjoy birding with the family? Well, if you’re a novice to birding, here are some ideas you can consider.
- Always keep close track of the bird instead of flipping through your guide to identify it. You should stufy the bird to distinguish its markings, song, feeding habits, movements and size, then jot these details down within your diary.
- Listen closely for bird songs and calls because they are the easiest way to identify birds. You could always listen while you’re looking directly on the bird to help make the proper identification.
- Estimate the overall shape and size from the bird to assist you in identifying the right family it comes from. You can estimate how big the bird is with regard to other more familiar ones for easier identification.
- Take a good look with the facial markings and characteristics including strips, patches of color, eye lines, eye arcs and a lot more. You need to make a note of any markings around the bill since different birds have varying bill characteristics.
- Next, you should identify the details on the tail, wings and overall body. You can identify these characteristics with the bird in flight or stationary.
- Glance at the length and hue of the bird’s legs and just how they impact the movement and flight. Depending upon the length and type of feet, the bird should be giving clues of its species by its jumping from every branch, swooping up or down and flying outside.
- Identify the feeding habits like foraging all over the camping site, clinging to the bark of trees, and other signals.
Now you can record your observations about the bird such as the region, climate, and the place you identified it. This way, when you’re exploring the bird guide later, you can actually identify it.
