If you think you know nothing about birds, you are probably wrong. There are some things that everybody knows, and these form the basis for extending your knowledge. First of all, you know that birds have feathers rather than fur for insulation, that most of them fly, and that many of them have characteristic songs or calls by which they communicate with one another.
Then, there are different kinds of birds. Ducks, hawks, seagulls, pigeons, parrots and owls are familiar categories, and even a complete beginner has a good idea as to whether a particular bird belongs to one of these groups. Understanding the extent and nature of this variety is the key to birding.
Australian Bird Identification
There are over 700 different kinds, or species, of bird found in Australia. Some are unmistakeable; you are not likely to misidentify an Australian Pelican at close range, nor a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring over you when you have recognized it as a hawk and seen the shape of the tail.
What about a sparrow? You need to be more careful here; if you live in Melbourne it might be either a House Sparrow or a Tree Sparrow. A cormorant? Depending on the area, you may have up to five to choose from. And what kind of parrot is that in the lemon tree?
Luckily, most (though not all) of the hard work of identification has been done already. You need a field guide, a book containing colored illustrations of all Australian birds, with notes on distribution, calls, habits and other relevant information.
The format of these is becoming increasingly standardized, with the illustrations facing the text on each species, which is listed with related species. With a little experience, a field guide is easy to use, and an essential reference wherever you might see an unfamiliar bird.
Birdwatching Equipment
Birding, for most of us, is not particularly expensive. Generally the most valuable item of birding equipment possessed by a birder is a pair of binoculars. Birders are, indeed, stereotyped in cartoons and in films as always having a pair of binoculars slung across the chest or raised to the eyes.
Although binoculars may not be absolutely necessary at the start, it soon becomes obvious that they are very useful if your interest in birds progresses beyond feeding the ducks at the local park. The reason is that, at the distances from which you can normally watch wary wild birds, the use of binoculars will multiply the number you can identify several times.
Although there are very cheap binoculars available, once you have decided that you are serious about watching birds, it is a good idea to invest in the best you can afford. Before doing so, it would be sensible to shop around and ask for informed advice from more experienced birdos or a bird club.
About the only other dedicated equipment you will need to get started is a notebook and pencil, for making field notes and rough sketches to aid identification.
Watching and hearing birds
First become familiar with the birds in your home garden, the local park, on walking routes and at holiday spots. In this way you will soon become aware of the range of commoner species associated with each site, seasonal changes through the year, the breeding residents, regular migrants and occasional visitors.
As you begin to recognize different kinds of birds, you will see how each species has its own patterns of behavior and way of life. With its appearance, calls and movements, these combine in giving each species a ‘character’ that sets it in its environment. As well becoming familiar with the differences between species, you may also find characteristic differences between sexes and age groups, and even between individuals.
Birding is not just about watching birds, it is also about listening to them. There are cassettes which contain the calls of most Australian birds, and these are invaluable for learning to recognize their calls and songs. The medley of birdsong from your garden at dawn, or from the trees down by the creek, will tell you just what birds are active there.
Bird Clubs
Interested in the many kinds of birds in Australia are many kinds of birders, or birdos. There are birding clubs in Australia that provide services and facilities for serious, casual, professional, amateur or occasional birdos, and they all welcome new members.
Bird clubs publish newsletters and hold regular meetings, as well as conducting outings to good birding sites. Often they run volunteer-based projects aimed to discover more about birds in their area of concern. Most importantly, they provide opportunities for anybody with any interest in birds to meet others in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Samet Bilir is model train passionate. You can check his blog for toy news, pictures, videos, and reviews, such as air hogs osprey and lalaloopsy clothes.
The feature photo is property of: All Australia Made
