Better Birding
October 25th, 2022 by georgann
| BetterBirding |
There are many subtle techniques that can make you a better birder. Neither difficult nor tricky, these techniques are valuable field methods gleaned from years of experience.
LISTEN for birds at all times. This is similar to learning a foreign language; the more your ears hear the sounds, the easier it is to understand them. Listen even when driving which obviously requires at least one window down, preferably the driver’s window. This can be a bit uncomfortable for passengers in the back seat, but you will soon be able to ignore their whining and hear only birds chirping.
While outside, listen; even while you are talking to someone. Practice long pauses between words and sentences. This enables you to sample bird songs and monitor the bird population around you. This technique should be done with caution, however, if you have a short train of thought.
LOOK constantly for birds no matter where you are and what you are doing. Veteran birders rarely spend a waking moment when they are not aware of the birds. Better birders are always glancing around. They are often considered rude conversationalists as they are constantly scanning the sky, tree canopy, branches, power lines, etc. for birds avoiding eye contact with you in order to increase their valuable birding time.
WATCH for signs of birds. Blue jay and crow mobbings alert you to a hidden hawk in the top of a tree. Scolding chickadees and titmice often lead you to a secretive owl. These rousing commotions may also lead you to a snake (which is invariably close to you than it is to the birds). Watch carefully for flocks of birds. Never assume that a huge group of red-winged blackbirds, for example, is 100% pure. Mixed in, hidden in the crowd, could very well be something unusual such as a Rusty or Brewer’s Blackbird. The difference between a birder and a better birder is that the latter is always ready and looking for something different.
HELP yourself. Learn good field techniques such as making birds come to you. Approaching birds usually makes them withdraw deeper into the thickets. Pull them out to you by pishing or squeaking. Neither of these noises can be actually taught; they must be learned by trail and error, preferably when you are alone to avoid beginner’s embarrassment. Pishing is done by placing your tongue against your front teeth and hissing while opening and closing your lips frequently. You can vary pishing by adding more saliva to it or making your lips tight. Squeaking is sucking air through the backs of two fingers or your fist. It is thought that good kissers make good pishers and squeakers, but current research suggests that it may be the other way around.
The ultimate technique to attract birds is an owl call. The call of a screech owl, for instance, will alert other little birds who will make their presence known by mobbing you. Owl calling works very well even when pishing and squeaking don’t, but there are a few disadvantages to it. Done repeatedly in the same area, resident birds may habituate to a screech owl calling, making the technique less effective. It may also discourage real screech owls from staying around. And finally, frequent owl calling may irritate other birders who are trying to listen to soft call notes and chips. Another attraction technique is the use of a tape, CD or iPod. There is a fine assortment of pre-recorded bird calls and songs for nearly every country and birding hotspot in the world. Most useful in the spring and summer, tapes can pull birds out of the centers of swamps, tangles of thickets or middle of meadows. Tape playing should be used with discretion and not disturb nesting birds.
BIRD OFTEN. Birding is one of those things where the reward is dependent upon your effort. You can learn about birds while sitting in your lounge chair and reading field guides or bird behavior books, but only by getting out frequently can you sharpen your ears and eyes. Visiting various habitats during different times of the year increases your chances of seeing more birds and truly knowing and understanding them. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with going out by yourself. Seeing a new bird and finding it in your field guide allows for the personal satisfaction of actually being able to find and identify a bird. The positive reinforcement of finding the bird yourself far surpasses having someone always telling you where and what it is. Your self esteem will soar.
AND LASTLY, every better birder technique that you have practiced will be worthless if you slam the car door. On the other hand, don’t leave the door open with the alarm buzzing either.
Above all, have fun and good better birding.
Birding Adventures, Inc.
Georgann Schmalz
Ornithologist
www.birdingadventuresinc.com