Birding With The Jays : Birdwatching Adventures & Guide

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos : Red-crowned Amazon at Joe & Tony Oliveira Park, Brownsville, Texas

Hey there! And welcome back or if you are new here, welcome for the first time! Either way we are excited for your visit today.

As you can probably tell by our title, today we will be talking about things you should know before you start birdwatching. And we will let you in on a big little secret … what you need to know before embarking on this big adventure is…drum roll please… nothing. That’s right NOTHING!

OK, maybe knowing what a bird is. Or what a bird is not.

For example : Bats are not birds, just a quick reminder, because to our surprise, we do get asked that question a little too often. So lets keep things simple. Birds generally have : hard beak/bill, feathers, wings, feet. And that about sums it up. Or, here are a few photos for reference.

We promise all these are birds. If we get time to upload pictures of some weird ones we’ve seen, we will gladly add them to this mini slide show.

Hey, it is OK Not to Know Everything

So lets begin! Just like anything in life, we all have to start somewhere. How will we ever learn if we don’t just jump right in and start. Crawling, walking, running. Examples enough to prove the point. So you might not know what species this bird or that bird is. Whoopty doo. You can figure it out.

You can ask.
You can research.
You can even use apps now a days.
(Although, in our opinion, apps take some of the fun out of it. )

Go out on the field. Take notes. Draw pictures. Listen to songs and calls. Talk to strangers wearing binoculars and bird-nerd shirts. Let yourself not know things, only so that you figure them out later through your own fun and experiences.

Curiosity, Patience, and Observation are greater than just “knowing bird names”

Sure, knowing bird names is great, but this will only get you so far.
Being curious about birds, waiting for them patiently, observing them, that is where the real fun is.

Better than “knowing bird names” is the ability to be curious. Their habits, their colors, their quirks. Be patient. Wait for them to show up for you. Wait for them to come to the feeder or maybe a water feature. Wait for them to bring friends. Wait for them to migrate. Observe them. Look out for behaviors like being part of a flock, or making certain calls when there is sight of potential threats.

This is where the true joy lives.
This is the soul of birdwatching.

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos : Hooded Warbler at Valley Land Fund Birding, South Padre Island, Texas

Most often than not, we run into people who just want to get the bird. They snap a few photos and voila! Gone they are. And hey…there is nothing wrong with that. If this is your style, you do you.

But the true bird lovers stay.
They count the number of times a bird catches bugs midair.
They hear the calls and songs they make to find a mate.
They take note in the little things.
And the little things do add up.

Starting with no gear or no ID skills

It is definitely OK to begin your birdwatching journey with absolutely no gear or no ID skills. You can work your way around this and in the process you learn to learn to depend on yourself.

Lately, we have seen people birdwatching walking around with their Merlin App recording bird calls. Which can be helpful, but instead of actively listening sometimes people take the app’s word for it without ever seeing the bird.

This can be a problem because:

1. The app isn’t always right and most of them work best only under certain environmental conditions. Ex. Low Wind
2. The bird isn’t being visually confirmed.
3. The call’s aren’t learned through practice.

If you already know your calls, that is different, you could be using the app to double check. But if you are starting out, slow down. Do yourself a favor and make the connections yourself. Try to wait for the bird you are hearing to visually match the one on your app.

So start easy.
Start from scratch.
Look everywhere.
Listen to the space around you, deeply.
Develop your birder skills before adding tools.
It is ok to use them, just don’t let them replace your senses.

Learn What’s Around You First

Begin with what you can see. Get familiar with the birds around you first. Try making drawings. Look for things that pop out. Look at similar birds. Look at the habitat range. Look for frequency in you area, seasonality, colors, feathers, patterns.

Then use a field bird guide. Use your phone, your computer. Make your own comparisons.

Ask birders around you. Honestly, that is our favorite way to learn. People in the birding community are awesome. They are generous and excited to share knowledge about birds. Do not take it for granted, it is something very special to experience.

The magic of Just Looking and Listening

Looking and listening are an underrated skills.

When you practice them, you become familiarized with your usual suspects. The critters that surround you and are always near. This becomes a great skill to have because eventually when you learn their movements, calls and behaviors, something amazing happens.

Your birding senses start tingling as soon as there is something different looming and waiting for you to find. That is where the exciting stuff happens. It all starts with paying attention.

Where to start:
Backyard, Park, Window

Start now! Go!
What are you waiting for?
Go to your backyard and see what you can find.
Run to the park and listen for calls and songs.
Go to your window, what is flying out there?
If you can see the outdoors or step into it, you’re already birdwatching.

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos : Trail at Resaca De La Palma State Park & World Birding Center, Brownsville, Texas

Birdwatching is not just for a particular age group or professionals

Let’s get one thing straight here.

There is an antiquated assumption that birdwatching is for “older” folks or retired people. But we are here to tell you, NOPE.

Birdwatching is for EVERYONE.

There is nothing stopping you from enjoying the great world of birdwatching. Do not let haters shame you out of birdwatching. Even if they tease, do not take it to heart. Better yet, invite them to birdwatch with you and change their mind!

It is a fun, amazing and healthy hobby.
So go do your thing and let us know how it goes!
We can’t wait to hear about your adventures.

Personal Reflection:
The Bird That Hooked Me

My (Jazmin) birdwatching journey, began because I took an ornithology class in college as part of my Biology degree. While many classmates complained of sweat, bugs and mosquitos during our lab field trips, I LOVED it! Then again, I have always loved the outdoors.

One morning, while out on the field, there was a Vermilion Flycatcher perched on the highest branch of an Oak tree.
The sun was hitting its chest and I could’ve sworn it was on fire.
That was the moment my heart ignited with a passion for birdwatching.
I hope you find that for yourself.
The bird that hooks you and that never lets go.

Photo by Jazmin Barrientos : Vermilion Flycatcher at Fish Hatchery Road, Brownsville, Texas
This is by no means the actual day and the actual bird that caught my heart, I didn’t even own a camera back then. But I felt compelled with necessity to provide a photograph of a Vermilion Flycatcher for you all.

Guides, Binoculars and Starting Slow

When I started, it was required for my class to purchase a birding guide called National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (There’s an updated version now). That was over 12 years ago today. I still have it, now falling apart since I have never let go of it, but it has been faithful to me.

If you can’t afford a guide, you can check one out at your local library.
Or you can download a free app on your phone like Audubon or Merlin Bird ID.

The same pair of binoculars have also accompanied me for the past 12 years. I want to say they are these: Binoculars.
I actually stole them, I mean “borrowed” them, from my brother who hunts. A family friend had actually gifted them to him, but my brother was kind enough to lend them to me for class. I guess he might have seen how much I used them and how happy they made me, so he never asked for them back.

Thank you brother. Because of you, I have seen many rare birdies. 💖

Some nature parks lend binoculars and or even field guides, you might just have to turn in a Drivers License. Sometimes they rent these as well, for a small fee. You can also try checking out a local pawn shop and score some at low price, if you really want to start getting some gear.

So start slow.
Try and test things out.
Learn what you like and then make your pick at different gear available.

But if you decide to go all in all at once, who cares!
Just go birdwatching!

Either way, come as you are, we’ve all been waiting for you. 💖✨

Happy birding! Love Always,

^{*A little disclaimer: This post may evolve over time. We’re choosing to publish now instead of waiting for perfection, because birding, like life, is learned by showing up.
So for now, perfection can wait. The bird’s will not.}

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