The simplest and most natural place to start: your kitchen or living room window. For urban dwellers in the heart of the city, this view will likely yield little more than a pigeon, seagull, or hardy crow. But for those of us lucky enough to look out onto even a small yard or garden, the birds are there, going about their business, oblivious of property lines and zoning regulations.
You are not the only denizen of your lawn and garden, though the smaller residents take some instinctive care to evade attention. The advantages of starting behind a pane of glass are obvious: first, we can rest in comfort, enjoying a cup of tea and a cozy chair; second, we have a built-in buffer for our tendency to chatter and fidget — though skittish birds will still scatter if they notice an abrupt noise or sudden movement even behind glass. How do we encourage these elusive visitors to get comfortable themselves, and stay awhile?
We can start by offering them the two things they need most: nourishing food and secure shelter. Both carry a meaningful responsibility.
Be ready to follow through if you decide to install a bird feeder. Feeders can influence nesting, territory, and even population growth — if you choose to feed the birds, be consistent to avoid leaving families in the lurch, causing stress and potential starvation. Winter is an especially crucial time, in many cooler climates: if you go on vacation, make sure a responsible person is committed to regularly checking and refilling your feeder.
For detailed advice on the seeds preferred by various birds, check out our Birding Guide. Bird houses should be thoroughly cleaned once a year late fall or early winter is a good time, as the nesting season should be over. This will reduce the danger of parasites or harmful insects damaging future broods. Aim to attract different species instead, with customized boxes. For the chance to get an intimate peek into avian family life, try a Window Nest Box which gives you a privileged view from inside your own home. Most birds prefer a sunny open space with some afternoon shade in summer.
Mount bird homes on a pole, or hang from a tree branch to deter other species, particularly predators. Enjoy landscape gardening? Birds will flock to your garden if you offer plants which nourish them and offer nesting opportunities and protection. Pines, junipers, roses, berries of all kinds, and of course sunflowers are all bird magnets — depending on which species you want to attract, the list goes on. This is one of the most rewarding personal practices birding teaches, simply through practice: the ability to engage in a meditative receptive state, encouraging stress-release and mental clarity.
This can take a while. My distractible, modern-technology-accustomed brain might need the reward of a few successful sightings and identifications before the true fascination takes hold. The urge to make small-talk with my companion is replaced by a quiet scanning of the smallest ambient sounds, the tiniest rustlings in the underbrush. I become a little more birdlike. In this space, the real magic can happen. Wild creatures possess two things most modern humans lack: at least one incredibly acute sensing tool, and the ability to become still and soundless when necessary.
Their survival depends upon both. The more time we spend in their territory, the more we relearn some of these buried instincts. Leave behind any bright or contrasting colors except in hunting season, of course , as well as strong scents and noisy devices. Blend in. Whether walking or in stillness, practice diffusing your attention in a wide sphere around you.
Use your ears. Birds are highly sensitive and easily disturbed; stress can have serious consequences. Thoughtless human behavior such as loud voices, sudden movements, approaching a nest too closely, or using flashbulbs or other artificial light for photography can cause grave disruption. At best, a feeding may be cut short, or unnecessary energy expended on spreading the alarm or making evasive maneuvers; at worst, a bird may abandon its nest or young. Casual tromping through a field can accidentally destroy the homes of ground-nesting birds: stay on paths. Part of birding is a genuine care and stewardship for the delicate creatures we observe: by maintaining ethical behavior and practices , we can support their survival in this increasingly dangerous world.
Any less-disturbed natural habitat is bound to attract some birds, and even some highly human-ized areas such as farms and playing fields are popular havens for migrating flocks. To witness the smaller resident birds, seek the edges. Edges happen where the forest meets the field, where the lake meets the reeds and rushes, and even where your rhododendron shrubs meet your lawn.
They can flit around in the open space foraging, while darting back into the protective cover whenever they like.
Seek out local trails at less-frequented times, such as near dawn and dusk. Calm perseverance is rewarded. Chances are, if you stay still, that bird will come back. If not, another may: rather than single-mindedly pursuing one elusive species, try to stay open and receptive to whomever is showing up. Even the common robin or chickadee has more to reveal to the acute observer. Keep your movements slow and steady while you raise your field glasses — your goal is to remain part of the scenery.
Bring a cushion, dress warmly, add a blanket if needed — anticipate what will help you sit as still as possible for at least 40 minutes. Many like to bring a journal to note their experiences, either observational or personal. Settle yourself and spend a moment calming your breath and noticing the quiet: it takes some time for the disturbance of your arrival to subside, and for birds to resume natural behavior rather than their initial alarm-response.
As the day breaks, the birds wake and seem to celebrate the coming of the light, each with its distinctive call. Music lovers may notice how the notes seem orchestrated in layers, each bird chiming in at the perfect moment. Notice how those of the same species call back to one another with the same tune, or a slight variation. Complex social signaling is taking place, which humans have only partially decoded. Birds are the most vocal in spring and summer, as efforts to attract a mate and defend nesting and feeding territory are at their height.
These warmer seasons are also often the most comfortable for an extended outdoor sit. Birders are, in general, an unusually friendly and open tribe. Most love sharing their passion with interested newcomers, and a few explorations with seasoned birders is the best possible education for a beginner. Follow Paul Fleckney on Twitter fleckaz. In this episode, he talks about why he left banking for hospitality Flora Gill. Alex Wickham.
However, there are several methods and technologies that you can use to help you. Birds are the most vocal in spring and summer, as efforts to attract a mate and defend nesting and feeding territory are at their height. Bring a cushion, dress warmly, add a blanket if needed — anticipate what will help you sit as still as possible for at least 40 minutes. Most popular Read Recent Read. Sometimes when you just aren't seeing what you want to see it's easy to want to give up. Fat Birder — A fantastic online resource for connecting with other birders, and learning everything there is to know about Bird Watching. Chances are, if you stay still, that bird will come back.
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