Spring is a fantastic time to really get involved in bird watching. So many things are happening both with the birds and opportunities for bird watchers.
Spring Migration
No matter where you live, the birds are either returning or they have been with you through the winter. For bird watchers, this is perhaps the most exciting time of the year. Some of the birds that will be seen in the next few weeks may only be passing through on their way to their breeding grounds. If you have just started bird watching, then your field guide will be a priceless asset of yours in the next month.
It would be a good idea to browse through your field guide, no matter which one you have purchased and look at the illustrations. Focus only on songbirds right now, especially the warblers. As you look at them, just make mental observations on how they are different from each other. The point here is not to memorize the differences but just to see what features change. For many birds the key field marks are eye-stripes, wing bars, cap or throat color, color patterns on the body, and so on.
Jot down any information you can about the bird you see. You can always look in your field guide later.
As a new bird watcher, do not be afraid of not being able to identify each and every bird you see, especially at this time of the year. A lot of us only get a brief glimpse of a bird, perhaps before flying off or going deeper into the brush. Train yourself to catch important field marks which you can. These might be enough to make an identification - note the colors you see, wing bars present or absent, size, and other distinguishing features. If you can jot those down and then look through the sections of your field guide with birds that are similar, you may make a positive identification. If not, strike it down to experience, and make more mental notes on what field marks you needed to see to make the identification. This is the type of practice that will make you a better bird watcher in the future
Plumage Changes
Another reason why this time of the year is exciting is that some birds undergo a plumage change due to breeding. Plumage is the overall feather patterns and colors that a bird possesses at points in the year. One bird at my feeders undergoing this change is the American Goldfinch. Both males and females are very dull and drab throughout the winter. At this point in April, many of them have become bright yellow with some drab feathers still remaining.
Magnolia Warbler in fall/winter plumage
Magnolia Warbler in breeding plumage
This plumage in birds makes it fresh and exciting to see a bird in a different light - an old friend with a new suit. In my blog post on documentation, I talk of ways of keeping bird watching fresh if you have been doing it for a long time. Learning the plumage differences between seasons is a way to keep up on your birds and gives you a reason to pick up your field guide and study the illustrations.
New Songs
With the birds returning to their breeding grounds, they are becoming more vocal. Bird songs and vocalizations are primarily for attracting mates and letting other birds of the same species know territorial boundaries.
Having been a birder now for 40 years, I don’t recall what it is like to hear the cacophony of birds any more. I recognize the very common ones now by ear. For the beginner they may sound like noise or random sounds. To learn the songs and sounds of birds, there are websites and apps to help you learn bird songs. Refer to my upcoming blog post on bird songs for details on those.
Local Experts and Organizations
Starting to bird watch can be a little overwhelming - you are learning to use binoculars and a field guide, you’re not sure what to look for, not sure where to go. Local birding groups usually offer beginning bird watching walks where they will go over the basics of how to look at a bird and how to identify it. Good places to start are Audubon Centers, National Wildlife Refuges, and nature centers if any are nearby. If you are not aware of any of these in your area, doing an online search should yield some local groups. In today’s digital society, also check social media platforms for nearby groups. Facebook has several groups for my local area, and they are for differing levels. Some are for bird watchers (those who want watch and feed birds) and others for birders (those actively looking for certain birds. Some of these groups will help you identify birds if you were able to get a good quality photograph and give suggestions on where to go for certain birds or seasonal hot-spots in your area.
Click on the image above to find an Audubon Center near you!
Click on the image above to find a National Wildlife Refuge near you!