Photo: A gorgeous Northern Cardinal rests on a branch at Theodore Roosevelt Island in D.C. The photo was taken at 10:45 a.m. I’ve found Cardinals to be particularly bright in the winter, and active all day long.
This is a topic I feel weirdly passionate about. People inadvertently discourage themselves from birding because they think you must be up at the crack of dawn to enjoy the hobby.
I AM NOT a morning person.
The best time to bird is when you have time to bird. That’s it. You do not need to get up early to be a birder or see amazing birdies.
Yes, birds DO feed in the morning when they wake up, but they also eat at all times of day. I generally get to my favorite birding spots between 8-10 or 3-4 depending on the day, and I am never disappointed.
My weekly bird walk is from 8:30-10:30 and we consistently see 25-35 species—and that’s in the winter. In the fall and spring we will see even more.
Birds DO tend to get quiet in the middle of the afternoon. I don’t have great luck between about 12-2, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see any birds, I just don’t see a lot. I would rather go outside on a beautiful day and bird for an hour at noon than miss out because it’s not early.
When you’re getting started, it’s most important to go outside, hone your binoculars skills, and work on identifying species at any time of the day.
If you’re interested in birding don’t be discouraged by a busy schedule. Just get out there and start. Oh and if you’re looking to bird at night–listen for an owl.