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Bird Watching 101Prepared by Samantha Krause
MSc candidate, UofL
June 18, 2019
Why be a “birder”?
• It’s fun! (and frustrating!)
• Get outside
• Meet people
• Good for your health
• Citizen science projects
• WARNING! Highly Addictive!
Taken by Samantha Krause
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Birding Tools: Binoculars
• Weight
• Magnification
▪ 8 x 42
• Field of View
• Light
• Cost ($-$$$)
• Learn to use them!
Birding Tools: Binoculars
Learn more about binoculars: https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/how-to-choose-binoculars.html
Sam’s recommended binoculars for new bird watchers
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Birding Tools: Field Guide
• Photos vs. illustrations
• Range maps
• Region specific
• Read “how to”
Field Guides: Sibley
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Field Guides: Nat Geo
Field Guides: Crossley (raptors)
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Field Guides
Looking at specific speciesLooking at other aspects of birds
Field Guide Notes
• Taxonomy
• Plumage types
▪ Location
▪ Age
▪ Season
• Dimorphism
• Morphology
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Apps: Sibley
Apps: ebird
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Apps: MerlinID
Apps and playbacks
• Be mindful when using audio in the field
▪ Avoid in high density
▪ Avoid in breeding season
▪ Hold to your ear
Taken by Rob Swainson
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Websites
ebird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/Natureinstruct: http://www.natureinstruct.org/dendroica/
Birding Tools: Camera
• Pros
▪ Photo now, ID later
▪ Less field knowledge req.
• Cons
▪ Tough to get photo
▪ “disconnected” from birds
Taken by Samantha Krauseusing her phone and binoculars
Tree Swallow
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Birding Tools: Birders!
• Slightly crazy
• Learn faster
• “tips & tricks”
Taken by Dawne Mowbray
Identifying birds
• Sight
• Sound
• Behaviour
• Habitat
• Time of year
Taken by Rob Swainson
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Identifying birds
• Sight
Identifying Birds: Sight
• Overall Size and shape
▪ Compare to something
• Details (bill to tail)
▪ Bill
▪ Wings
▪ Tail
▪ Leg
• Relative measures
European StarlingDowny Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker
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Identifying Birds: Sight
• Colours
• Patterns
• (Terminology)
• NB: colours can vary!
Chipping Sparrow
House Wren
Identifying birds
• Sight
• Sound
Least flycatcher Alder flycatcher
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Identifying birds
• Sight
• Sound
• Behaviour
Red-breasted nuthatchBrown creeper
For spotted sandpiper bobbing behaviour:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngsfd7CkEzE
Identifying birds
• Sight
• Sound
• Behaviour
• Habitat
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Identifying birds
• Sight
• Sound
• Behaviour
• Habitat
• Time of year
Breeding plumage Non-breeding plumage
Chestnut-sided warbler
Different seasons bring different birds
…So you’ve got the birding stuff…
• Browse your field guide
• Practice with binoculars
• Find local “hotspots”
• Start IDing common birds
• LOOK at birds
▪ Backyard
▪ Winter
The Elizabeth Hall Wetlands are a great hotspot!
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…So you’ve got the birding stuff…
• Don’t be a “bird plow”
• Stick to the shadows
• Walk slowly and quietly
• Find a “sit spot”
• Learn the lingo…(Sh*t birders say)
Taken by Samantha Krause
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaX7i1Q7-Rw
Interested in learning more about birds?
• Campus bird walks
• Backyard birding (pres.)
• Winter birding (pres.)
• Working in Puerto Rico (pres.)
• Campus birding E-mail list
E-mail me anytime!:
Taken by Rob Swainson
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Photo note:
While some of the photos used in this presentation were my own, many were borrowed from friends or from google. Please contact me if you wish to use any of the photos.