Tips for enjoyable birdwatching

With so many birders hoping to see a birdie they’ve never eyeballed before, it’s not surprising to see heaps of write-ups about birding. Birdwatchers, both avid and novice, clamouring for the latest tools and tips to get the best bird watching experience is the norm. Most of them end up disappointed, but our top 6 tips from for getting the most out of your birdie ogling experience won’t let you down.
Get Up-close
Many birders spend most of their birdwatching time in poor locations. Some folks have the advantage of relaxing on the porch, observing nature’s best. Others need to go out and about. We recommend visiting top birdwatching destinations in Australia – they never cease to amaze.
Also, check out http://www.australianwildlifejourneys.com/wildlife-interest/birds for birdwatching opportunities in Australia or the full Australian Wildlife Journeys website for other wildlife spotting activities.
Real Expectations
Know what species to expect. In Australia, there are 828 native bird species and recognising each of them is almost impossible. So when you tour an area, do a little research. You may realise that only a few species inhabit that area. With a little preparation, you’ll be able to readily identify different birdies. Keep a list of viewed species.
Long Sighted
Spending hours and dollars to get to the right spot can be totally wasted if your binoculars run short. Cheap binoculars aren’t good buys. You’ll not get the best out of your viewing. Modern-day technologies provide essential benefits in birdwatching.
For instance, image stabilisation will keep your view stable, which is great for distant viewing. Other cool features include low-light viewing, wide-view and anti-fogging. Additionally, binoculars with inbuilt digital cameras let you identify birds when you get home. Such benefits will enhance your birdwatching. Turn a mediocre experience into a magnificent one with a great pair of “binocs”.
Practice Makes…
A key to viewing birds is having the ability to quickly put your binocs on target. Most birders have difficulty tracking a bird in flight or focusing on a birdie in a bush. Practising prior to your outing improves your reflexes and view speed. Try this before you set out: lower your binoculars and quickly raise them to locate and follow a jetliner across the sky. After several attempts, you’ll get good at acquiring a target fast. Quite often, birds appear and vanish instantly. So practice becoming proficient.
Tag-Along
Take someone with you, as life’s always better when shared. You get to spend quality time outdoors with someone you like and they might alert you to “A Sight To Behold”. Share your birding experience with family and friends. Pass the birding buzz to a child.
Read On
Birdwatching articles and magazines are abundant. But reading mainstream publications isn’t all. You’ll miss out on some incredible content. Personal birding blogs, like this one, are a birder’s favourite. Some are funny. Others are brilliant at educating enthusiasts about different species. Not forgetting those that write about bird conservation.