Bird Watching Tips (Birding)

In this video I give my top 15 bird watching tips. Birdwatching (birding) is my favorite hobby, and it is my dream to get more people interested in this hobby. My best birding tips that I discuss in this video include suggestions about birdwatching binoculars, citizen science, ebird, birdwatching apps, bird photography, bird field guides, and many other things about birds.

My name is Eddie, I am an avid birder and a wildlife biologist (my focus has largely been birds so I like to consider myself an ornithologist). On this channel, I teach natural history and also how to enjoy nature, including tips on how to find, view, and photograph wildlife, app and gear reviews, and ecotourism travel guides. Wherever you are in the world, exploring nature is always an Adventure, so subscribe and hit the notification bell!

All of the footage in this video was taken by me in San Diego County, CA. All of the birds were wild and were primarily filmed at Santee Lakes and Tecolote Canyon state parks.

Please give the video a like or dislike depending on how much the video helped you and comment below if you have any other tips not mentioned in the video.

**Disclaimer: the jokes slipped into the video are jokes, and not facts, LOL!

[alyssacouroux]

so I will comment on the white clothing... I wear it often and can’t say I have any issues birding & capturing great photos! 🤔

[jasonjulaton]

I’d like to think it as modern day dinosaur watchers.

[markhaywood]

For beginning birders I would recommend that they locate their local Audubon chapter and join some of their group outings. It is always good for beginners to bird with more experienced people to learn as much as possible.

When I started birding I also brought a good camera with a zoom lens on it because it is easier to ID an unknown bird from a photograph.

[shayndelshofar]

We at Retired Backyard Birders thank you for sharing.

[spidergirl]

Once while birding with a group, I was wearing a mostly white hoodie with some bright colors designed to look like a NASA astronaut suit and a ruby-throated hummingbird flew up to me, possibly thinking I was a flower or food source! For me, spending time in the field has taught me the most! I can listen to bird calls all day long, but something about seeing the bird sing its song in the moment really helps me remember it. Great video!

[Drawsbirds]

On tip 5- birding with experts... it can sometimes be intimidating, especially for newer birders. What worked for me was going on regular walks that occur in the same place every week/month and going on local bird club trips. You meet a mix of experts and people closer to your experience level. Plus, asking questions about ID in the field and then re-explaining that to someone else is very reinforcing!

Tip 7 is a problem for a lot of otherwise "good" birders. They find something cool and then don't try/do a terrible job describing its location. I learned to point out birds by leading walks.

For guidebooks, I agree on Sibley (especially now that the new app is fixed. But having a physical book to leaf through is a great way to learn birds passively. A lot of birds I ID'ed for the first time because I kept flipping past them in my Sibley Bird East. It's much easier than scrolling through an app IMO.

And on wearing white... I don't usually worry too much about what I wear when I'm not on the clock (I'm an ornithology field technician) but I've met people who always wear white/light solid colors because it's easier to spot ticks. Plus, tuck long pants into socks and shirt into pants. I know at least 5 birders who have contracted a tickborne illness, including alpha-gal meat allergy!

[henrifischer]

when you record the sound of a bird, before you stop recording, name the location, perhaps something about the weather, the vegetation and if the bird was close or far away, high up in a tree, in a bush or flying over (direction). that way, if you process the recording later on, you don't have to depend on your memory to recollect all the specifics

[topher_]

I just started and I didn’t spend near 200 bucks on my birdnoculars. I got the Bushnell power view 2s 20x50 for a little less than 70 bucks on Amazon. Phenomenal binoculars. Highly recommend.

[kenyonmoon]

I'll add a couple tips:

1- every species is not in every place, but every place has some birds. Parks, Greenway, fields, roadside. Yes wild spaces are great, but even downtowns have lots of birds beyond pigeons and crows. Visit a neighborhood park or the local cemetery if getting out of town is not an option.

2- rare birds are always a treat, but the secret is to know the 100 or so common birds for your area, at least recognize them even if you don't remember their name. That way you can observe and appreciate their changes during the year and understand them the way you do a friend or neighbor, and this also makes it easier to recognize when a rare bird shows up because it is something you don't recognize immediately.

[cynthiafields]

Ed's birding tips and owl identifying suggestions are wonderfully encouraging. I'll look for all his videos. Cyndi Fields, California

[Javaman]

I'm just getting into birding again after a busy life. What I am finding is the difficulty to see a bird for only a few moments and in those moments trying to remember enough information to make a decision as to what it was. Perhaps as you say with doing it more my brain will categorize them better or something.
You don't mention the app, Merlin, but I love it and use it all the time, especially because it can hear better than I can. I guess I should mention that I am almost 70.
You shared good information, thanks.

[ForrestWest]

Thanks for a great and informative video! Social media is really good for birding and I saw a post by a lady who was not able to get out much and she had photographed 42 species of birds out of her window of her home with a small point and shoot camera. Anyone can enjoy bird watching and photographing Birds.

[petesanchez]

I’m somewhat of a bird watcher 🤷🏻‍♂️
I been putting bird houses and only one roosting box on my 4 acres property. I get tree swallows that nest in the boxes when temperatures drop in the early spring.
My nest boxes are meant for Rocky Mountain Blue Birds. I put a horse wire fence all around the property and now these birds can land. They eat the grasshoppers so I want them eating them so my wildflowers get bigger and native grasses. I put a nice real rock bird bath.
It’s biocontrol 🤙🏽

[BioBush]

Santee Lakes! Wow, it's changed so much in the last 10 years. Beautiful video and a huge variety of birds! And a GREAT start-up guide to picking up the birding hobby and community. Good work, Adventure Ed!

[Abigracelauren]

on the clothing, i think it depends on the species! hummingbirds and cardinals seem very very interested in me when i wear brighter colors, but some others are more wary of me with brighter colors.

[Gabriel-zxge]

I usually use my camera as binoculars, It actually works.

Greetings from Brazil!

[freddysflyz]

I've been birding for a while but these tips were very helpful and taught me things. THANKS! Just a week or so ago, I learned of eBird you mentioned and find it amazing! Now I need to spend more money on guide books! LOL! Appreciate your work!

[dm]

Oh I really like your video… and I love the Internet and my phone with all the information I can gather I can’t believe it it’s awesome!
I just started birding and I’m having a really fun time! So thank you very much and I do want to purchase a better pair of binoculars.
Believe it or not I take my dog with me, and she is very quiet and peaceful with me while I’m watching👍🤩✌️🦅

[FloraHolland-mj]

I just found your channel and I am SO stoked about it. I am going to study Wildlife Biology in college and I am absolutely loving watching all your videos. I subscribed and turned on post notifications!

[StephinePrysock]

I had to write a small essay on birding and i was looking up random videos. This is so comprehensive and so interesting. I just came for information but subscribed to your channel. Thanks