Birding With The Jays : Birdwatching Adventures & Guide

There are many places to find birds, your own backyard included. However, for a change of scenery or perhaps a chance to see different species of feathered friends, we must venture to the great outdoors! Doing so can also increase our probability of encounters of the rare kind (rare birds).

Follow the Trees

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos: Great-tailed grackles bracing themselves for a winter freeze, Brownsville, Texas

There are many types of parks where we can pay a visit in search of birds. These can include city, state and national parks. It is entirely up to you where you chose to begin. Keep in mind how accessible these places are to you. Some places might require a scheduled tram, for example, or maybe a bicycle or even a car. You can always open google maps and check your surroundings and begin there. There could be a place within walking distance, like your neighborhood park or an area with a crowd of trees. If you are feeling particularly audacious, you can travel greater distances to a location of your liking and venture out to explore there. Many people travel just to have the opportunity to birdwatch at certain parks because there might be a special species of bird/birds that can only be found there.

Parks are an excellent place to birdwatch because there is usually an abundance of trees and other vegetation that make it appealing to birds. Foliage and trees fulfill a lot of basic necessities for birds. This could mean resources such as food, nesting material or space and coverage from predators. For us humans, it means there is usually a restroom near by, as well as protection from the elements – should the weather like to change its mind. Sometimes you might even encounter a vending machine or a convenience store for water and snacks! All the best – most important things needed when birdwatching, of course.

Ebird

Ebird is an application that deserves an entire post on its own. Don’t worry, we are already working on it. It is a very important app that can be downloaded on your phone. It will help in a variety of ways.

First and most importantly, it helps scientists study different patterns such as bird migration, population sizes and distribution among other cool data. This is great because then they can figure out ways to help, if for example a species might be endangered, facing a population decline or perhaps habitat loss.

Secondly, it demonstrates the collection of a lifetime. Ebird can help keep track of your birdwatching lists every time you input data. Meaning, you can keep track of how many species of birds you have seen, where, and when you have seen them.

Thirdly, what you are here for, you can find birds! Ebird has a tab where you can find hotspots. These hotspots are labeled on the map to where you can click on them and see what people have reported in that particular area. Hotspots might include parks as well, but beware, it can also include very random and sometimes questionable places. You must definitely plan accordingly and take a look beforehand to check what will be in your surroundings.

**Side Note**

It is important to add, if you are only just beginning your journey in birdwatching, to perhaps download the app but refrain from submitting lists or “reports” at least for now. You can keep a list on your phone or paper, or perhaps document your finds by snapping a picture. The reason behind this is that we do not want to mess with the information being submitted to ebird. We need to be absolutely sure that the information being submitted is correct. Certain species submitted will get flagged by the program as a possible mistake and will then have to be reviewed by a local ebird reviewer that is considered to be an expert. They will have the final say as to if the bird goes on record or not. Wrong reports can skew or hurt the data being collected. If you take pictures for proof, it might facilitate the process if you have something out of the ordinary and bonus, you can have a souvenir you can study!

You can also start by showing up at hotspots and asking people what birds you are looking at. There has never been a birdwatcher we have run into that declines an opportunity to help a fellow birder or aspiring birder with birding knowledge. So, don’t be shy! There are also apps and books that help you identify birds!

Word of Mouth / Facebook Groups

The advancement of technology has demonstrated, now, after covid more than ever, that it is easier to find ways to communicate with each other!

You are here aren’t you? Connected and online. Well, use that to your advantage. When you are out birdwatching, make friends! It is genuinely easy. It is a very special thing to be a birdwatcher, even though there is a bit of competition out there, there is a always a common characteristic we have found in this hobby : friendliness.

Yes, just like any sport or good drama you might have an archnemesis (the person who always shows up first, or gets the bird before you do). However, even your worst archnemisis, in the birding world, will not let you miss the coolest birds. It is unsportsmanlike conduct. The birding world takes pride in honesty, kindness and being considerate and mindful of others.

So, what do you have to loose? Ask away. Make connections. Make friends. Some might share personal details and you might share yours, then never see each other again. But for the moment, you found your birds and they found theirs.

Facebook and other social media are excellent sources of places where you can access information about birds. There are bird identification groups, there are bird photography groups, groups to alert about rare birds, communities where you can share your awesome finds or adventures and well, just a plethora of bird topics. Find a group that corresponds to your area / location and join! Be the awesome birder we know you already are, please read and follow your group’s rules. Some groups might be more strict than others, but fun none the less.

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Cheers to great birding!
Love Always,