Birding

Learn about birds and have fun

There are thousands of species of birds in North America alone, so for those baby boomers who want a hobby that is fun and involves nature, there are few hobbies better than bird watching. Bird watching, also known as birding, is something that even someone with limited mobility can engage in. By putting a few bird feeders up, even a house-bound person can enjoy an afternoon of backyard birding. Some simple tools, and the hints and tips contained in this article, are all you need to begin bird watching.

Preparing to bird watch is as easy as purchasing a field guide and some birding binoculars and sitting in a local park or even your own backyard. The Audubon society has a range of birding products, such as illustrated field guides, that it produces for amateur and professional bird watchers. Field guides are important for identifying a species or even subspecies of bird while birding.

Birding Binoculars

Birding binoculars are another essential tool for birding. Most species of birds are skittish or may roost, nest or fly into areas that are not accessible to anyone, let alone an amateur bird watcher. Birding binoculars come in a range of sizes and powers but should be light enough to allow the birder to watch from a distance for long periods of time without their arms tiring. You can find excellent reviews of birding binoculars online, as well as plenty of information on the hobby in general.

Backyard Birding

Backyard birding is the answer for those people who lack mobility or who live in urban areas that don’t have a lot of open spaces or parks where birds are likely to be found. In order to bird watch as a backyard birder, additional expenses in the form of bird feeders may be required. Backyard birding can be done from a balcony, a terrace or even a window with the right bird feeder. Sometimes, the closer proximity of the birds can allow an amateur to forego purchasing a set of birding binoculars.

There are active bird watching communities in every part of the United States, which can be found through community centers or parks departments. Also, amateurs wanting a crash course in bird watching can contact their local zoo and speak to the resident ornithologist or bird specialist.