1. Accompany an experienced birder but be sure to bring your bird guide and binoculars.
2. Have a destination in mind where birds have been spotted and wake up with the birds before sunrise or watch their behaviors as the sun goes down and follow them with as little movement as possible.
3. Pay attention to calls, movement, behavior, flight patterns etc. Focus on one aspect of a bird’s identifying behavior each time you go out …you will be surprised how well you begin to classify the birds. Classification makes identification so much easier.
4. Enjoy the moment.
5. Knowing the parts of the bird’s anatomy gives you a chance to describe the bird you are seeing.
6. Make birding a regular event, join a group, and plan your vacations around birding sites.
One of my most memorable moments was over thirty years ago in Florida. It was February and I was visiting my parents in Cocoa Beach Florida next to the Banana River when my father woke me up just before dawn dragging me to the back porch that faced the river, telling me that this was a once in a lifetime experience. And there before my eyes were birds of many species flying together lasagna style, some even on the water itself. You couldn’t make out the preserve in the background or the sky above. What a moment that was! Sometimes nature just has to hit you over the head to take notice but when it does you are always looking. Once you learn to see, they are all once in a life time moments
