So you want to be a birder? It’s easier than you think!

 

By Hugh M. Carola

 

Birding is the second most popular hobby in America after gardening and I think it’s great that outdoor and nature-related activities still trump the kind of things you can only do in front of a screen. Birding brings me close to nature and gives me hours of relatively inexpensive enjoyment.

 

Getting Started

Like many folks, I got started with an inexpensive birdfeeder in the backyard and a cheap pair of binoculars to watch the Blue jays, Chickadees, Cardinals and others that came by for a free meal. Eventually I graduated to creating small habitat areas in my backyard. I let mulberry bushes grow along the property line, planted some poplar trees and confined my mowing to just the part of the yard where our kids played. Soon I was seeing more than just the usual suspects at the feeder and began noticing Gray catbirds, Northern mockingbirds and six different warbler species. The best was when a Sharp-shinned hawk decided to drop in and try (unsuccessfully) to snatch a sparrow from the feeder. It wasn’t long before I was seriously hooked on birding.  (For more information about creating a backyard habitat, see Hackensack Riverscaping or contact us for a free copy.)

 

Field Guides

When I began noticing new birds in my yard, I needed a field guide to tell them apart. Field guides are books that list bird species, describing them and their behavior in detail. They also contain pictures and range maps that show where and when birds might be found. There are several excellent field guides but I recommend Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America. Unlike some other field guides that cover every species found on the continent, Peterson’s is easy to use, small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, and covers just about every bird species you’re likely to encounter east of the Mississippi.

 

Binoculars (part one)

You’ve probably heard the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Nowhere is this truer than where binoculars are concerned. Yes, you can pick up a cheap pair online for under $50, but I guarantee that it won’t take long before their shortcomings show: difficulty in focusing, misalignment of the barrels or condensation on the inside of the lenses, just to name a few. Your best bet is to spend the most you can comfortably afford on a pair of binoculars made by a well-known optics manufacturer and sold by a reputable camera shop, birding specialty store or New Jersey Audubon sanctuary. Since your binoculars are the single largest purchase you’ll make in getting started and they’re your most important birding “tool,” it’s a good idea to spend your money wisely.

 

Binoculars (part two, or What do the numbers mean?)

All binoculars come with a set of numbers attached: 10x50, 8x42, 7x35 and the like. The first number refers to the magnification power of the ocular lenses (the ones you look into) and the second one refers to the diameter, in millimeters, of the objective lenses (the ones you point at the bird). For example, a pair labeled 10x50 makes a bird 100 feet away looks like its just 10 feet away. The size of the objective lenses determines the width of your field of view (amount of sky you see) and the amount of light that your binoculars let in. In general, the higher that number is, the wider and brighter the image is. Choosing a pair of binoculars is a very subjective thing. Unlike price, bigger is not necessarily better and what works for somebody else might not work for you, so take your time and find a pair that’s just right.

 

Now get out and go birding!

Ok, you’ve been studying your field guide and you’ve got a good pair of binoculars; now what do you do? Fifteen years ago when I began birding in earnest, I discovered three local birding hotspots that I return to year after year: The Celery Farm Natural Area in Allendale, Garret Mountain Reservation/Rifle Camp Park in West Paterson, and DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. No matter what kind of birds you want to see, you’ll find that those three places get results. Hackensack Riverkeeper Eco-Cruises, Eco-Walks and Eco-Paddles (we’ve reserved some just for birding) are excellent ways to see birds in the Meadowlands – sign up for one! Birding trips are also offered throughout the year by nature clubs and environmental groups. Going fishing, down the shore or out to the Delaware? Playing golf this weekend? Bring those binoculars and that field guide along because just about anyplace in New Jersey is a good place to bird. After all, they don’t call our state the “Crossroads of Migration” for nothing.

 

But before you head out the door…

Just remember two things: birding is not an exact science. Sometimes you’ll find that despite having the right equipment, great weather and a lot of enthusiasm, the birds (or at least the birds you’re hoping for) just don’t show up. It’s not because the bird feeder doesn’t work or you didn’t spring for those $500 binoculars – it’s because you’re dealing with wild animals – cute and harmless, but wild nonetheless. And none of us are experts. All birders are amateur naturalists. Sure, some folks might go on birding trips to Alaska or Costa Rica and some have the knack for picking the best weekend to go hawk-watching, but the bottom line is that no matter how long we’ve been at it, we just love watching birds. Good birding!