have you Been Birding? Discover educational content on the world of birding
Begin Birding
How I Started
I started birding with a few bird feeders in my yard. I'd get my regular bird visitors to the feeders, which I enjoyed and could easily ID. Fast forward a few years and I got a dog and began hiking with him as a way to get both of us exercise. It was on these hikes that I began noticing new bird types that were different from those visiting my feeders. I began taking cell phone pictures of these new birds so I could look them up when I got home. That quickly escalated to me buying a camera to get better photos of the birds I was encountering and venturing to new areas in search of new birds. Along the way I've encountered many experienced birders that were happy to pass along tidbits of information and help me become a better birder. These encounters were instrumental in my development and I continue to learn from many of these birders today.
How You Can Get Started
You can start birding with a minor adjustment to your daily routine. Just start paying attention to birds you encounter. Do you know the names of the birds you're seeing? If not, trying looking them up in a bird identification book, the internet, or an app like Merlin Bird ID.
Want to see different birds? Go to a local park or lake. Check out an app like eBird to understand where other birders have been seeing birds in your area.
Use binoculars to help you better see birds in the distance. Use your cellphone camera, or actual camera, to document the birds you see and make it easier to look up their ID's later.
Anyone can begin birding and determine how involved they want to be!