RESOURCES FOR NEW BIRDERS
Where to Bird:
In Cuyahoga County
Favorite Places to Bird in Northern Ohio
Birding in Ohio
Birdcam - live video from more than a dozen bird feeding stations and nests around the world
What to Wear, What to Bring, and What to Expect when Birding:
- Binoculars!
- Wear Layers - it can be cold & rainy early on Spring mornings, but 75 or higher later in the morning
- Wear comfortable shoes or boots that can get muddy or wet
- Dress more warmly than you think you'll need to dress - birdwatching involves a lot of slow walking and stationary activity
- Sunscreen, water, snacks (optional), gloves, raincoat or umbrella, waist pack or back pack for carrying a few items, insect repellant (only needed occasionally), extra pair of socks or shoes (optional)
- Cell phone - to use with Merlin app
- Field guide - field guide books with pictures can be helpful for beginning birders
- Small notebook if you want to keep a list what you see - checklists are provided on some field trips and are available at some parks and nature centers
- Camera (not recommended) - better to see the birds than try to photograph them - it's harder than it looks and takes away from time that is better spent seeing more birds!
- Many birders are open to showing you what they're seeing - or helping you identify what you're seeing - don't hesitate to ask!
About Binoculars:
Audubon Society's Binocular Guide
2020 Review of Binoculars
Time & Optics - a well-stocked shop for binoculars & spotting scopes - in Millersburg, Ohio
WEBSITES & LINKS FOR NEW BIRDERS:
22 Tips for Aspiring Black Birders - from Earth In Color
All About Birds - Online Guide to Birds and Birdwatching - from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Bird Academy - from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Birding by Ear - from Audubon Great Lakes
Larkwire - an app for learning bird songs!
Kirtland Bird Club Bird Identification Videos - series of six 90 minute videos by experienced birders that guides you through all aspects of identifying birds
“7 Tips for Watching Birds During The Spring Lockdown – Here are some principles you can apply to any form of nature study”, by David Sibley:
Audubon Great Lakes Region - includes activities for kids
Christian Cooper and Amy Tan Discuss How Birding Brings Them Joy - Video from NY Times series Go Birding with The Times - focus is on becoming a birder
BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS:
Beginning Birding and Finding community, by Noah Stricker
Keep Looking Up - Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, by Tammah Watts
BEST FIELD GUIDES FOR BEGINNERS:
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern & Central North America, Seventh Edition
Sibley Birds East - The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
BEST PHONE APPS:
Merlin app (for bird ID - including bird songs, chips, and calls) - Free
Sibley Birds v2 app (for bird ID) - $20 in the app store
Peterson Birds of North America app (for bird ID)
iBird app (for bird ID) - $4.99
eBird app - more advanced, includes checklist uploads, info on bird trends, citizen science etc. - Free
How to eBird - a powerpoint by an Ohio Young Bgirder to get you started!
AUDIO RECORDINGS FOR NEW BIRDERS:
Backyard Birding 101
LEARNING BIRD SONG:
Minnesota Bird Songs - with images - we get almost all of these birds in Northeast Ohio
Birding by Ear - from Audubon
Birding by Ear - Peterson audio guide - step by step, adding new birds as you go
NEW BIRDER VIDEOS FOR KIDS:
Monica Marshall's Boys & Girls Club's Cyber Club videos:
Go Wild Adventure Club: July 13, 2020: "Get ready for your adventure"
Go Wild Adventure Club: May 18, 2020: "What will we see?"
NEW BIRDER ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS:
Nature Quests - Indoors and Outdoors (from Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Backyard Safari - activity for kids K-5