ESSENTIALS FOR BIRD WATCHING For anyone interested in watching birds there are four essentials: 1. Bird habitat for observations 2. Birding field guide to aid in identification of birds 3. Pair of binoculars 4. Knowledge and practice of birding etiquette BIRD HABITATS
Bird habitats can be as close as your own backyard and as distant as another country. Bird habitats include forests, wetlands, prairies, and seas. They also include rainforests, cloud-forests, sod-farms, grasslands, and more. For Florida bird habitats there are several resources beginning with Birding Hotspots in Broward County on this website and the Florida Birding Trail brochures (http://www.FloridaBirdingTrail.com). The most recent book of hotspots in Florida is by Brian Rapozza and titled, Birding Florida. It describes 200 primary habitats in 54 locations in Florida. Susan Cerulean published earlier a book titled--Guide to the Florida Great Birding Trail: East Section. Nationwide there are hotspots for birding and often bird festivals associated with them. To access a directory of birding festivals go to http://www.americanbirding.org/festivals. More importantly, link up with other birders on a field trip. Check events on the BCAS Events at this web site and visit other Audubon chapters for lists of their field trips. They would be happy to have you join them. BIRDING FIELD GUIDES Field guides are compact books showing photos or graphic depictions and descriptions of bird species in North America or a particular state. Guides usually describe the male, female and immature bird, behavior, preferred habitat for nesting, and vocalizations. Some birders prefer field guides by a seasoned author such as Roger Tory Peterson or David Sibley while others choose guides because of the organization producing the book such as National Audubon Society, National Geographic, Smithsonian, or American Birding Association. Field guides for Florida birds found at popular online bookstores and published since 2000-to present include, but are not limited to, the following: · National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida (has more than birds) by Peter Alden · Birds of Florida Smithsonian Handbook Series by Fred J. Alsop, III · Florida Bird Watching: A Year-round Guide by Bill Thompson II and the Bird Watching Digest Staff · Birds of Florida by Bill Pranty, Gregory Kennedy, and Kurt A. Raddamaker · Florida’s Birds: a Field Guide and Reference by Herbert Kale, II, David S. Maehr, and Karl Karulus · Birds of Florida Field Guide: Companion to Birds of Florida CD by Stan Tekiela · Common Coastal Birds of Florida and the Caribbean by David W. Nellis · National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: Florida by Barbara Bronwell-Grogan (Editor) and Mel Baughman · Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America by David Sibley · Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region · Guide to Birds of the Southeastern States: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi by John Rappole · Florida’s Fabulous Birds and Their Stories: Land Birds by Winston Williams (great photographs) · Florida’s Fabulous Water Birds and Their Stories by Winston Williams (great photographs)
Two online naturestores in Southern Florida include, but are not limited to, the following: http://www.corkscrewnaturestore.org and http://www.evergladesassociation.org.
BINOCULARS FOR BIRD WATCHING Binoculars are invaluable for bird watching and buying a pair that is right for bird watching and right for you is very important. For a new birder's personal account of trying to do without them, click here. Although binoculars can be used for many purposes other than birding, purchasing them from someone specializing in optics for birders will reassure you that you are getting the most appropriate ones for years of enjoyable bird watching. Factors to consider in the selection of binoculars for bird watching have been detailed in the book, Pete Dunne on Bird Watching, and are highlighted here: · Size and shape – o Choose the binoculars that when adjusted produce a single image (i.e., ocular lens fits your interpupillary distance) o Choose binoculars that are easy to grasp and hold firmly while maneuvering the focus wheel with your index finger · Weight o Choose binoculars that are not too heavy to hold while locating and studying a bird’s features · Design – choose between Porro prism and roof prism o Porro prism binoculars are usually wide-bodied and the front lens (objective) and back lens (ocular) are not lined up along a linear axis. They incorporate fewer reflecting surfaces and thereby reduce light loss and image distortion o Roof prism binoculars are easier to hold and use because of its sleek back-to-front linear design and for higher magnifications has better overall image quality. Its disadvantages are increased loss of light and introduction of light-wave shift that reduces image contrast o Note disadvantages are reduced in higher quality binoculars · Focus System o Choose binoculars with a center-focus wheel for quick and easy adjustments between distant and nearby birds o Avoid lever or bar focus systems o Avoid permanent-focus or no-focus systems · Magnification o Most birders choose between 7x to 10x power for their magnification o Higher magnifications enables viewing of more distant objects but reduces field of view and depth of field; may lose light and cause darker images · Exit Pupil Size o Is the diameter number calculated by dividing the size of the objective lens by the power of the binocular o For example, a 7x 42 binocular has a 6 millimeter exit pupil o Objective lens sizes used by birders range from 30 to 50 o The larger the objective lens number the more light enters o Choose 5-6 mm and never less than 3.75 millimeters · Optics o Choose BAK-4 glass or denser; HD (high-density) glass · Coatings o Choose fully multicoated optics o Roof prism binoculars need phase-corrected coatings · Close Focus o Choose 10-15 feet for close focusing · Field of View o Choose no less than 330 feet at 1,000 yards · Eye Relief o 18 millimeters is preferred by many o Eyeglass wearers need at minimum 15 millimeters · Water Resistance and Durability o For bird watching in fog, rain, snow, or sleet and offshore or in the tropics, be sure the binoculars are waterproof and rugged Before purchasing check (and ask the salesperson to check) the binoculars for proper alignment, optical performance, dust or debris in the barrels, and any mechanical problem. Check two or three binoculars of the same model and select the best performing one. To see the latest binocular reviews by the Cape May Bird Observatory staff go to http://www.njaudubon.org/NatureNotes/ or to compare manufacturers of optics go to http://www.featheredgeoptics.com. BIRDING ETIQUETTE
The American Birding Association developed a Code of Birding Ethics which emphasizes showing respect for wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. Here are highlights from that code. Show respect for birds · Support protection of major bird habitats · Avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger when observing or filming them o Limit use of recordings in trying to attract birds o Stay back from nests, display areas, and feeding sites o Minimize use of flash for close-up photos · Share presence of a rare bird only after evaluating potential for stressing the bird by other people in the area · Stay on trails and keep habitat disturbance to a minimum Show respect for the law · Follow laws governing use of roads and public areas Show respect for the rights of others · Seek permission before entering private property for birding · Be courteous to other birders and non-birders · Share your knowledge and experience with beginning birders · If leading a group, keep the size small to minimize interference with others in the area Pete Dunne reminds us: “Harming birds is the very antithesis of what motivates birders—yet birds are sometimes injured, and their lives are often disrupted, by the efforts of those eager to appreciate them. Shorebirds feeding to fuel their long flight to the Arctic are forced to relocate when approached too closely—a waste of their time and energy. Adult birds, trying to distract birders away from nestlings, may attract a hawk that truly puts their young at risk.” OTHER RESOURCES FOR BIRD WATCHING
After you have begun bird watching with the essentials, consider some of the following resources: 1. Companion to the Field Guide 2. Birding Software such as by Peter Thayer 3. Birding CD’s and Videos for listening to birds 4. Birding Journals and Lists to keep track of birds seen
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