Author: Rita Shaw

Birdwatching Tools 101

Posted on by Rita Shaw

So you’d like to go birdwatching, but don’t know what to bring? Here’s the tools a beginner might need out on the field. Keep your dog out of your way with some toys from DoggieToys.Deals

  1. Binoculars or a Camera.

You are unlikely to see a bird within a few feet of yourself for more than a few seconds, but with these birdwatching tools, you can still have that experience. Using a camera or binoculars also prevents the need to go closer and closer to the birds. Doing so can cause them stress. However, zooming in on birds is both stress-free for them, and guilt-free for you.

Cameras are especially useful because they can immortalize your birdwatching experience. If your camera is a digital camera, you can even transfer your photos onto your computer and see the birds in greater detail. …

Birdwatching for Beginners

Posted on by Rita Shaw

What is the most pleasant way to watch time fly? Birdwatching!

Birdwatching, or birding, is a popular pastime. Observing wild birds in their natural environment is relaxing and fascinating. What a peaceful way to spend a day!

This has been called the Number-One Spectator Sport in America. Can you believe it? More people watch birds than any professional sporting event!

Does that mean there are more oriole enthusiasts than Orioles fans? More redwing blackbird buffs than Redwings rooters? More cardinal-lovers that Cardinal boosters? Yes!

For fledgling birdwatchers, here are a few helpful instructions. These may help you to spy your favorite birds on the fly.

 

Select an appropriate habitat.

Find out where the birds live, and seek out the ones you want to see. In North America, if you are patient and you know where to look, you …

Adam: The First Gardener and Birdwatcher

Posted on by Rita Shaw

The first gardener must have also been a bird watcher, I am sure. Genesis chapter two tells the story about him. In Genesis 2:8, God created a garden. It was complete with plants, trees and a river. He put a man there to take care of it. The Bible calls the man Adam. In the garden, God brought all the animals and birds that he created to Adam to name. Birdwatchers have been trying to identify birds ever since, but Adam simply named them, giving each bird and each animal dignity and a place in the society of the garden of Eden.

In Geneses 2:22 Eve was created. Now Adam had company in the garden. He dressed the garden with tools he had to learn how to make and use. It must have been interesting to see how he fitted …

Quick Guide to Yellow Birds of Orange County CA: A Guide for Common Birds with Yellow Plumage in Southern California

Posted on by Rita Shaw

Many birds call the unique vegetation of Southern California home, but it is those with a flash of yellow that often catch the eye. Here’s a quick guide to help hikers and other casual observers identify one yellow bird from another.

Wilson’s Warbler

Look for this bird especially in the spring and fall. It has a yellow belly and breast and an olive-colored back and wings. The long tail, yellow face and black cap make this small (less than five inches) Southern California bird easy to identify.

Pacific-Slope Flycatcher

About the same size as the Wilson’s warbler, this bird is most commonly seen in the summer in Orange County. Its yellow belly and chest are not as bright at the Wilson’s warbler, and its back is more olive-brown in color. Look for the distinctive white eye ring, orange lower bill …

Best 5 Florida State Parks for Bird Watching

Posted on by Rita Shaw

Do you enjoy bird watching? I do. It is a habit that I picked up once I moved to the south. Part of the reason why I took up the habit was because there are so many interesting species of birds known to inhabit or pass throughout the region. I have found that some of the best places to go bird watching are found within Florida’s State Parks. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the best ones:

Fort Mose Historic State Park

The Fort Mose Historic State Park is located in St. Augustine. There are four things that make it a wonderful place to go bird watching. First, there is a well maintained boardwalk that overlooks the marsh. Second, it is part of Florida’s birding trail. Third, there is typically an abundance of birds present. Fourth, there are guided …

Myths and Legends of Bird Migration: Traditional Folklore Explanations of Where Birds Go in Winter

Posted on by Rita Shaw

If we didn’t have the knowledge acquired over centuries by ornithologists and naturalists, how would we explain where migratory birds go in the autumn? Here are some theories from antiquity accounting for bird migration.

Birds Fly to the Moon for the Winter

Many birds fly at high altitudes while they migrate—Bar-headed Geese cross the Himalayas at 9,000 metres (29,500 feet)—far out of sight of human observers on the ground. The ascent of migrating birds in the fall, apparently headed into space, probably inspired the belief in the Middle Ages that they went to the moon for the winter.

Birds Changing into Something Else

Atlantic Puffins have brightly coloured bills only in the breeding season; the Piping Plover loses the black on its head and chest in winter; in many species, the male, female and juveniles look quite different from each …

Birdwatching in Arkansas: What You Need to Know

Posted on by Rita Shaw

When ornithologists from Cornell University announced they had found the Ivory Billed Woodpecker in the Big Woods of Arkansas, a stampede of bird watchers made their way to the state, hoping for a sighting of a bird many had assumed extinct. While there is still some controversy about the existence of the ivory billed woodpecker, it hasn’t stopped birding enthusiasts from descending on the state. If you are planning a bird watching trip to Arkansas, here are some things to know before you go.

Be ready for the weather- In Arkansas, that means be ready for anything. Arkansas has a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters, but winter temperatures can dip into the single digits in the northern counties and ice storms aren’t uncommon. If you are traveling in the summer, take plenty of water on your …

Backyard Birdwatching Just for the Fun of It

Posted on by Rita Shaw

I’m not a typical birdwatcher, and even though I do have a book showing all of the birds to be found in Northern California, I’m still not very good at matching the birds that I see in my backyard with the pictures in the book. Nevertheless, I do enjoy watching the birds as they go about their business, and try to figure out what they’re up to.

We have created a bird sanctuary in our garden, complete with feeders, water for drinking and bathing, and flowers for the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. The garden is enclosed with a high fence, and there are lots of little hiding places for the birds to find shelter.

Our friends gave us a funky, handmade birdhouse that we hung on the fence, intending it to be yard art – never thinking that birds would …

Finding the Right Birdwatching Locations

Posted on by Rita Shaw

Before planning an outing for bird watching, you must decide the type of bird that you would like to see. You may find them in your own back yard or at a local park,. But, first you must know where to look and what to listen for. Keep a bird watching guide handy to identify the birds you see. Look for places with exotic birds, like at a beach or in the rain forest. You may spend a lot of money planning a trip, or you can save money by finding local places to find different types of birds.

Also, you can grab a friend to take with you, who will enjoy finding the different types of birds. In the city you will find sparrows, wrens, pigeons, or finches, even cardinals and many more. However, in the woods, you may …

The Tools of the Trade: Birdwatching Tools

Posted on by Rita Shaw

Without the help of a pair of fine optics, there’s no easy way to see birds, which are hidden in the safety of a large tree. Binoculars not only increase the birds, but you can rely on great distances.

It is important to note that any observation of birds are visually beautiful and easy, how often people can have an impact many hours in view of the birds. While some of Ornithology, that a decent pair of binoculars is the only thing that runs through an observation of the birds of adventure, there are many other things to keep in mind that reinforces a trip.

To ensure easy access to the guides and other elements, a jacket with the bird-sized bag is recommended. The jacket offers a typical ten bags of different sizes to take account of points, such as …