Photo: A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is perched on a branch. Taken at the U.S. Botanic Garden
New to birding? So am I! Here’s how I got started.
1 – Equip yourself with binoculars. I think this is the only piece of equipment you absolutely need to start birding. There are great binoculars around $100 that can get you started. Just know that the more you spend, the better distance and the brighter the zoom will be.
- I have the Monarch M5 8×42 binoculars and I wholeheartedly recommend them
- The Nocs Provisions 8×25 binoculars at REI are highly rated if you’re dipping your toes into the hobby but looking for a less expensive pair
- Wirecutter also did a review of binoculars that may assist you when researching a good pair
2 – Choose Your Checklist and Life List Platform: Birders have varying preferences on how they record their checklists (birding sessions) and life list (list of every bird they’ve seen). Handwritten journals, the Audubon app, and various applications are all good options, but I recommend eBird. Create an eBird account and download the applications for seamless recording.
3 – Download the Merlin application and log in with your eBird username and password. Merlin is a more specific app on the eBird platform that allows you to do species identification. Don’t forget to download the “bird packs” specific to your region.
4 – Go birding! Find an eBird hotspot and go birding.
– At the beginning of your session, select “Start Checklist”, and record the birds you see. Count the birds as accurately as possible, or denote with an “X” if you’re unsure of the account
– When you are done with your birding session, select “Stop”
– Choose the location that best fits where you birded, answer the questions, and review the birds you saw
– When complete, click “submit”
Voilà! You’ve created a checklist. Any birds that you see for the first time get added to your life list. You can review your life list on eBird or the Merlin app at the “Life List” tab.
5 – Utilize Sound ID and Record Observations. Merlin’s “Sound ID” feature lets you see all the birds chirping away near you. I usually let the sound detection run for a few minutes, and then try to spot the birds that Merlin picked up. When I’ve positively identified a bird, I go to the eBird app and record it. I use both applications when I am birding. It sounds cumbersome, but you get used to it, and they complement each other well.
6 – Upload photos. If you’re into bird photography, you may want to upload photos to your checklist. This can be done on the eBird website. Navigate to your checklist and select “Add media”. From there you can upload photos.
7 – Keep Exploring and Learning:. I will go into more detail about a lot of the stuff mentioned here, but these are the basics. Have fun birding, and let me know what you saw!