Resources for Beginning Birders
Beginning Birder Field Trips
Held one Sunday of each month, October through June, these outings are geared toward people who aren’t yet entirely comfortable joining regular field trips as well as those who have birded a bit but would like to be better birders. As is the case with all our field trips, it is not necessary to be a Sacramento Audubon member to participate.
The field trips will focus on finding and identifying common birds in a variety of habitats, with an emphasis on looking and listening. These walks, covering about a mile and a half, will last about three hours and will usually be led by three friendly and experienced Sacramento Audubon trip leaders. You can sign up for just one session, or for more than one.
Trip is limited to 10 adult participants and requires a minimum of 3 participants. Registration required.
Register by emailing Larry (put “Beginning Birder” in the subject line). Give your name, phone number and email address. After registering, you will receive additional information regarding the field trip.
Killdeer, 1 day old
Image by Ray Rozema
Birder Tip:
Think about relative size. Is it bigger or smaller than a sparrow, a robin, a crow, or a goose?
Resources for Identifying Birds
Compiled with the help of the best Sacramento Audubon birders, the Sacramento Area Birds Checklist quickly shows what birds are in our area, when they are here, and how common they are.
Brought to you by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin Bird ID is a simple, free app for your smartphone that helps identify the birds you are seeing and hearing.
The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to over 800 species of North American birds.
On-line resources are great, but sometimes you can’t beat a good book in your hands. Some of the favorite Bird Guides of Sacramento Audubon members include:
Birder Tip:
Look at the feet, beak, and eyes. These are often distinguishing field marks that will help you identify otherwise similar birds.
Resources for Where to Go Birding
Locations Accessible for All
Sacramento Audubon makes finding the birds easy. Check out Where to Go Birding for recommendations on locations to visit. Discover a great place to bird by joining a Sacramento Audubon Field Trip. Learn about the accessibility of a location on the Accessible Birding page.
Birder Tip:
Know what’s likely for where and when you are birding. Some birds are only found in a particular habitat or season.
Resources for Choosing the Right Gear
Your eyes and ears are all you need to start birding. However, a good pair of binoculars goes a long way in helping you identify field marks on that small or distant bird. National Audubon has an excellent guide for choosing your first pair of bins. Another option is to talk with the folks at Out of This World Optics. They are friendly and knowledgeable and though based in Mendocino, great supporters of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center.
Birder Tip:
Spot the bird with your eyes, then without moving your head, bring your binoculars up to your eyes.
Resources for Keeping Track of What You See
Whether you keep a nature journal, create a spreadsheet for your life list, or record your observations on eBird, reviewing what you saw will help you become a better birder.
Created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird is the number one app for tracking bird observations. eBird allows you to record the bird species you have identified in real time or after the fact. These records are compiled by eBird and can be viewed by location, month, year, or lifetime. A free on-line class is available from Cornell to get you started. All you need is an account with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
In addition, many birders use eBird to decide on their next birding location. Using the Hotspot Map, you can search for popular and productive locations. Zoom in on the map to find locations near you, or use the search boxes to explore a particular region or species.
Birder Tip:
Stay curious. One of the best things about birding is that there is always more to discover.
Ethical Birding Practices
The Sacramento Audubon Society is dedicated to the protection of birds and their natural habitats. Let’s ensure that our enjoyment of these spaces doesn’t negatively impact their existence or their inhabitants.
The American Birding Association has established a Code of Ethics to help us all “practice and promote respectful, enjoyable, thoughtful birding.”
Here are a few highlights of this Code of Ethics. Please honor these important safeguards.
Minimize habitat disturbance by staying on trails.
Avoid getting too close to birds, especially those that are nesting.
Limit the use of recordings and other audio methods of attracting birds, particularly in heavily birded areas.
Always bird and report with honesty and integrity.
Never enter private property without the landowner’s permission.
Keep cats and other domestic animals indoors or controlled.
In addition to ethics while birding, please consider the well-being of birds while taking photographs. National Audubon Society has a Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography.