A fun and extremely rewarding hobby, here is how you can start your journey to the fascinating world of birding or bird watching.
Why should I invest my time and energies in birding or bird watching?
If you are someone who is looking for a fruitful hobby to engage you and make you a bit smart too without spending a lot of money, we have a great hobby for you, that is birding or birdwatching. This hobby is quite fun for people who not only love nature but are curious about it as well. It is believed that when you start noticing birds around you then you become even more perceptive about many things. You would take notice of things you might not have thought about before. So, birding is a way to appreciate nature in all its glory.
Great! How do I begin?
Yes, starting anything new is challenging, so we start with something very basic and as they say, take baby steps. The easiest way to do so is by setting a birdfeeder outside your window (whichever you like the most). But do keep in mind that that window should not be one ground level as the chances for you to see birds diminish a bit. Set your birdfeeder close to the window in a way that you can see birds. Be consistent in filling the birdfeeder as once birds in surrounding areas know that they can get regular feed, you would see a variety of birds stopping by.
Ok, but serious birdwatching, like going out in parks and woods, how do I do that?
Well, you would not need any fancy equipment, to begin with, but you do need to have a guide. This guide does not have to be a bird expert, you could rely on your local library, the internet used or second-hand books, or even your local bookstore. Read through and know more about different bird species, how they look, and their range maps. You could even maintain a journal about different birds and if you can draw then even draw some fine illustrations.
How can I attract the birds naturally to my house and yard?
As discussed above you could easily do that with the help of a feeder but there are many more ways to attract birds to your yard. Plant various berry bushes that are quite bird-friendly. Read more about local plants and flowers that attract birds. Most importantly, eliminate the use of pesticides that can make birds sick.
So, would you try birding?
