Looking for a new hobby? If you have a window and some interest in the subject, bird watching might just be the pastime for you.
New Hampshire Audubon biologist Becky Suomala sat down with us recently to provide an introduction to birding. You really only need three things to get started, she says. There’s the aforementioned interest, binoculars and a guide book.
A whopping 200 species pass through the state during spring migration, which means this is a great time of year to start bird watching. It helps if you’re an early riser – birds are most active from about 5:30 to 10 a.m. when they’re singing and feeding. They’re a bit more difficult to catch in the afternoon as that’s resting and nest-building time.
There are plenty of parks, trails and nature refuges around the state to see birds. Becky’s favorites include Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham and Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson and Whitefield (the New Hampshire Audubon’s first sanctuary). The more you get out, the more species you can add to your birding resume. Plus, as Becky points out, it’s a great way to connect with nature in general.
Of course, there are opportunities for bird watching from the comfort of your home. A bird feeder attracts plenty of year-round species like cardinals, blue jays and chickadees. The close encounter offered by a feeder also gives birders the opportunity to observe bird behavior. Chickadees wintering in the state tend to band together in groups and visit feeders in flocks. By mid-April, flocks split into breeding pairs, putting an end to friendly visits at the feeder.
Bird identification is a key factor in bird watching, and there are plenty of publications and websites to help. Becky recommends “Peterson’s Field Guide to Eastern Birds.” It features color photos and is the most frequently updated identification book. “A Checklist of the Birds of New Hampshire,” published by the Audubon, is another helpful resource that documents the yearly occurrence of species. The scarlet tanager and cardinal look similar, but if you spot a flash of red in March, the bird checklist tells you it’s likely a cardinal – the scarlet tanager doesn’t show up until later in the season.
For truly tricky species, Becky suggests snapping a photo with a digital camera. Upload the photo to a birding website for help identifying the bird. Even a blurry photo – with a description – can yield a positive identification. Becky also notes that bird watchers can learn to identify birds by their unique songs. Listen to a CD or digital recording online to brush up on your bird song skills.
Bird watchers can take the hobby as far as they like – there are plenty of opportunities for the casual observer and expert alike. Newbies might enjoy some of the bird-watching walks and trips offered by the Audubon. Skilled bird watchers can participate in bird counting surveys and reporting.
There’s a whole community of bird watchers out there to meet, not to mention plenty of feathered friends. “Birders are fun,” Becky says, “Quirky people, but also good fun people.”