Bird Watching for Beginners!

Your guide (including tips and supplies) to begin your next birding adventure!

News flash! Bird watching isn’t just an activity for older folks who are enjoying their retirement. (I say that only because as birders in our mid 20’s, my husband and I get that comment all the time. And no, we are not retired. 😉 )

In fact, it’s a great activity for adults and children alike. And you know what? It’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it!

Bird watching can help people of all ages get to know the birds that are local to their community, and soon you’ll be listening for the different calls and sounds of your newly found feathered friends!

My husband and I have become avid birders within the last year or so, and we wanted to share our enjoyment with you all!

We will go over some tips and tricks for those of you who are just getting into bird watching, and we’ll share with you some of our favorite tools to take out into the birding field!

[Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.]

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In all reality, you don’t need anything to bird watch. It can be as simple as stepping outside and observing the birds in your own backyard, or it can be more involved, like traveling to your favorite bird migration destination to spot all of your favorite birds!

Both ways are great, but here are some items that you may want to keep with you when you go on your next birding adventure.

These are our recommended tools for beginner bird watching!

Supplies:

Binoculars
A camera (I use a Canon DSLR with a nice 55-250mm zoom lens)
A bird book, for identifying the birds you see.
A notebook and a pen
Most importantly, patience!

Binoculars & Cameras

One of the most important items to have on hand is a good pair of binoculars.

Binoculars are great to have because they give you a close-up view of a bird that’s far away, and otherwise hard to see.

It sounds obvious, but squinting up into a tree to look for the bird that just flew past you isn’t very helpful.

Kids will also have fun using them, although it might take some practice to get the focus just right. It’s a great learning experience for the whole family!

Unfortunately, my husband dropped his binoculars on our hike up Angels Landing in Zion. Since he takes them nearly everywhere we go, he will definitely be buying another pair soon.

You never know when a cool bird might appear!

I snapped this photo of Kyle as he was watching for a Thrasher in Arizona!

Since I always have my camera with me, that is my way of viewing the birds up close. And of course, I am able to get some great pictures that way! (I’ll post some of my favorite birding pictures at the end of this post so you can see them!)

As I mentioned above, I have a Canon DSLR with a 55-250mm lens. I love my camera and this particular lens, because I am able to get some awesome bird pictures every time I go outside!

There are plenty of lenses available that are more high-end (and in the price range of $1,000+), but I work with what I have and it works out great for me.

You don’t need any fancy equipment to start out, but making a small investment in binoculars and/or a camera will make all the difference!

Bird Books

Another item that Kyle and I always have on hand is a bird book.

We have accumulated about 8 bird books so far, but our favorite one has to be the Sibley Birds West book. Each page contains detailed images of birds, both male and female, as well as info on flight patterns and migration areas.

Here is a page from the Warbler section. There is so much useful information on each of these pages!

I have linked the Sibley Birds West book down below. I would definitely recommend getting a copy to have on hand!

Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of Western North America

For those of you who live on the East Coast, you can purchase The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition. I love that they have 2 different books, one for the Eastern and Western regions of the United States.

They make it easy to document the birds you find, and you’ll quickly start to memorize page numbers as you get more familiar with each species!

A Notebook & Pen

This is something that I’d recommend to those of you who like taking notes and writing things down. Having a pen and a small notebook will be helpful for jotting down the birds you identify that day. You can also write down the location to reference at a later date.

Even something as simple as keeping a sticky note inside your bird book to take notes on would be useful!

It is always fun to look back on your notes from months and even years prior to see where you’ve been, and what discoveries you’ve made along the way!

And finally, I’ll share with you one of the most important parts of bird watching…

Patience, Patience, Patience!

Patience is a key to bird watching, regardless of your birding experience level.

For Kyle and I, our enjoyment comes from finally seeing that special bird that we’ve been trying to find all day long. Sometimes it happens sooner than later, but waiting patiently is something we’ve excelled at.

Since I enjoy taking pictures of the birds, having enough patience to wait until the right moment to capture that perfect photo is key.

Sometimes the lighting isn’t just right, or maybe the bird decides to hang out on the opposite side of the tree from where I’m standing.

That’s fine! Just be patient.

Chances are, the bird will fly around to find a new landing spot, and I’ll finally have my chance at the perfect picture.

Along with patience comes the need to quietly observe. Don’t be loud and don’t make any sudden movements that would scare the bird. You probably won’t have much luck seeing the birds (or any other wildlife animals) if you’re too loud and disruptive.

It is best to walk slowly and quietly, and to use soft voices while talking. Also, make sure your phone is on silent! No one wants to hear a cell phone ringing over the peaceful sound of nature.

Have Fun!

I hope these tips have encouraged you to take the first step to get outside and make some new feathered friends. You don’t need to go far, so have fun and enjoy yourself!

Birding is a great learning tool for all ages, and it’s a perfect way to get to know some of the local birds in your area. I would love to hear about your bird watching stories, beginner or pro! What are your favorite bird watching spots, and what are some of the coolest birds you’ve seen so far?

Please enjoy a few of my favorite birding photos! (All photos are my own.)