In this video I give my top 15 bird watching tips. Birdwatching (birding) is my favorite hobby, and it is my dream to get more people interested in this hobby. My best birding tips that I discuss in this video include suggestions about birdwatching binoculars, citizen science, ebird, birdwatching apps, bird photography, bird field guides, and many other things about birds.
My name is Eddie, I am an avid birder and a wildlife biologist (my focus has largely been birds so I like to consider myself an ornithologist). On this channel, I teach natural history and also how to enjoy nature, including tips on how to find, view, and photograph wildlife, app and gear reviews, and ecotourism travel guides. Wherever you are in the world, exploring nature is always an Adventure, so subscribe and hit the notification bell!
All of the footage in this video was taken by me in San Diego County, CA. All of the birds were wild and were primarily filmed at Santee Lakes and Tecolote Canyon state parks.
Please give the video a like or dislike depending on how much the video helped you and comment below if you have any other tips not mentioned in the video.
**Disclaimer: the jokes slipped into the video are jokes, and not facts, LOL!
so I will comment on the white clothing... I wear it often and can’t say I have any issues birding & capturing great photos! 🤔
it is really interesting to think about! so you have never had any problems with wearing white ever?
Adventure Ed never... I also haven’t specifically paid attention to wearing another colour & comparing experiences. It’s a difficult thing to do since each and every bird, animal etc is different and some are cautious, some are comfortable near humans.
+Alyssa Couroux that is very true. So you have nothing to recommend when searching for owls?
Adventure Ed suppose for owls blending in is better- being quiet and cautious as not to disrupt roosts is important especially for smaller owls during the daytime. They can easily become prey to larger owls and raptors. Good idea to move slow as to not scare them. They will see you long before you see them- but if you get to close without being aware you risk them flushing & becoming endangered
hmmmm cool! maybe I can invite you to be a guest in one of my videos some time that teaches people how to owl???
I’d like to think it as modern day dinosaur watchers.
absolutely! it is true!
No it isn't..they are birds..
For beginning birders I would recommend that they locate their local Audubon chapter and join some of their group outings. It is always good for beginners to bird with more experienced people to learn as much as possible. When I started birding I also brought a good camera with a zoom lens on it because it is easier to ID an unknown bird from a photograph.
very good points! thanks a lot!
We at Retired Backyard Birders thank you for sharing.
Once while birding with a group, I was wearing a mostly white hoodie with some bright colors designed to look like a NASA astronaut suit and a ruby-throated hummingbird flew up to me, possibly thinking I was a flower or food source! For me, spending time in the field has taught me the most! I can listen to bird calls all day long, but something about seeing the bird sing its song in the moment really helps me remember it. Great video!
that is fascinating! certainly possible they thought it was a flower. yes, time in the field is maybe the best thing you can do. thanks so much for watching!
I'll add a couple tips: 1- every species is not in every place, but every place has some birds. Parks, Greenway, fields, roadside. Yes wild spaces are great, but even downtowns have lots of birds beyond pigeons and crows. Visit a neighborhood park or the local cemetery if getting out of town is not an option. 2- rare birds are always a treat, but the secret is to know the 100 or so common birds for your area, at least recognize them even if you don't remember their name. That way you can observe and appreciate their changes during the year and understand them the way you do a friend or neighbor, and this also makes it easier to recognize when a rare bird shows up because it is something you don't recognize immediately.
On tip 5- birding with experts... it can sometimes be intimidating, especially for newer birders. What worked for me was going on regular walks that occur in the same place every week/month and going on local bird club trips. You meet a mix of experts and people closer to your experience level. Plus, asking questions about ID in the field and then re-explaining that to someone else is very reinforcing! Tip 7 is a problem for a lot of otherwise "good" birders. They find something cool and then don't try/do a terrible job describing its location. I learned to point out birds by leading walks. For guidebooks, I agree on Sibley (especially now that the new app is fixed. But having a physical book to leaf through is a great way to learn birds passively. A lot of birds I ID'ed for the first time because I kept flipping past them in my Sibley Bird East. It's much easier than scrolling through an app IMO. And on wearing white... I don't usually worry too much about what I wear when I'm not on the clock (I'm an ornithology field technician) but I've met people who always wear white/light solid colors because it's easier to spot ticks. Plus, tuck long pants into socks and shirt into pants. I know at least 5 birders who have contracted a tickborne illness, including alpha-gal meat allergy!
really awesome points! never thought of white with ticks. it sure can be intimidating to bird with really advanced birders. That is why i think all birders should be especially polite to beginner birders so we do not scare away any greenhorns from the hobby
I'm just getting into birding again after a busy life. What I am finding is the difficulty to see a bird for only a few moments and in those moments trying to remember enough information to make a decision as to what it was. Perhaps as you say with doing it more my brain will categorize them better or something. You don't mention the app, Merlin, but I love it and use it all the time, especially because it can hear better than I can. I guess I should mention that I am almost 70. You shared good information, thanks.
That’s why I always bring a good camera with a good telephone lens so if I can identify the bird, I can go back to my studio and check the photograph with Merlin Bird ID
@@frednorman1 That is what I have done. I would recommend it to anyone first getting into birding.
I just started and I didn’t spend near 200 bucks on my birdnoculars. I got the Bushnell power view 2s 20x50 for a little less than 70 bucks on Amazon. Phenomenal binoculars. Highly recommend.
Oh thank you very much, I love Bushnell that was my first pair! 👍✌️🦅
I had to write a small essay on birding and i was looking up random videos. This is so comprehensive and so interesting. I just came for information but subscribed to your channel. Thanks
I just found your channel and I am SO stoked about it. I am going to study Wildlife Biology in college and I am absolutely loving watching all your videos. I subscribed and turned on post notifications!
when you record the sound of a bird, before you stop recording, name the location, perhaps something about the weather, the vegetation and if the bird was close or far away, high up in a tree, in a bush or flying over (direction). that way, if you process the recording later on, you don't have to depend on your memory to recollect all the specifics
that is a great tip, I definitely agree! thank for watching :)
I’m somewhat of a bird watcher 🤷🏻♂️ I been putting bird houses and only one roosting box on my 4 acres property. I get tree swallows that nest in the boxes when temperatures drop in the early spring. My nest boxes are meant for Rocky Mountain Blue Birds. I put a horse wire fence all around the property and now these birds can land. They eat the grasshoppers so I want them eating them so my wildflowers get bigger and native grasses. I put a nice real rock bird bath. It’s biocontrol 🤙🏽
Santee Lakes! Wow, it's changed so much in the last 10 years. Beautiful video and a huge variety of birds! And a GREAT start-up guide to picking up the birding hobby and community. Good work, Adventure Ed!
thanks a lot man! i love Santee Lakes, a great place to get up close to water birds
I usually use my camera as binoculars, It actually works. Greetings from Brazil!
That sounds like a great method! Thanks for watching :)
ae um parça br. Tamo junto passarinheiro.
Ed's birding tips and owl identifying suggestions are wonderfully encouraging. I'll look for all his videos. Cyndi Fields, California
Thank you very much Cyndi! Really appreciate you watching! There is more to come!
Oh I really like your video… and I love the Internet and my phone with all the information I can gather I can’t believe it it’s awesome! I just started birding and I’m having a really fun time! So thank you very much and I do want to purchase a better pair of binoculars. Believe it or not I take my dog with me, and she is very quiet and peaceful with me while I’m watching👍🤩✌️🦅
Thanks for a great and informative video! Social media is really good for birding and I saw a post by a lady who was not able to get out much and she had photographed 42 species of birds out of her window of her home with a small point and shoot camera. Anyone can enjoy bird watching and photographing Birds.
Nice to sharing with us
Awesome video and positive attitude! Thank you!
Lesley the Bird Nerd has trained wild bird to eat out of her hands! She has amazing videos
yes I love her vids :)
Thank you for these! I would love try this :)
So glad I found your channel! Your videos are so engaging and easy to watch and learn. Just switched to a major in Environmental Studies and really excited about the fields of conservation biogeography and wildlife biology, definitely going to be watching more of your videos!
thanks so much for watching :) really means a lot. Unfortunately I have had no time lately in the past six months to post anything new, but I am planning on starting up a more consistent uploading schedule, and will post next week!
Lovely video- thank you!
so I will comment on the white clothing... I wear it often and can’t say I have any issues birding & capturing great photos!
Well done video, tips are very helpful!
I love watching birds. One of the best travel moments was seeing a bald eagle swoop down and grab a fish out of the lake. It was incredible.
+The Journey thanks guys! Birds are amazing, aren’t they?
Great tips and a nice uplifting video, thanks!
thanks a lot for watching :)
Good vid. Great tips. Thank you
excellent "you tube" video ED! I agree with everyone of your tips. I teach a birding class in Florida and have added your video to my pre class info for students to read and view b4 their first field trip.
Thank you so much for watching!! I really appreciate and am honored to have your video included in the curriculum. It really is a big honor! I have made a number of videos on tips, apps, books, and other things for birding, so feel free to check my other videos out if you haven’t already. I am also planning on making more birding videos. Again thanks so much for watching and sharing!!
Hi Kathryn, we are in Orlando. Where do you teach your birding classes?
Thank you for the great info.
thank you :)
pretty good comment with bird watching, thx for your time in make this video~
Great Vid...you covered everything 👍🏼 (I'm a birder in Oz)
Great vid! Lots of helpful tips!
Thankyou for these tips! I subbed
absolutely bud! no prob!!
Very beautiful informative video about watching birds. Nice creation. Great work friends.
thanks a lot, appreciate it! do you like birds?
A lot of good tips here!
I think you hit all of the points. Great video!
I've been birding for a while but these tips were very helpful and taught me things. THANKS! Just a week or so ago, I learned of eBird you mentioned and find it amazing! Now I need to spend more money on guide books! LOL! Appreciate your work!
Where can I get a bird guide on the Internet cause I only go birding with my phone and my dog.
Very useful tips thank you
sorry for the late reply! thanks for watching :)
I came knowing your channel today and i think it is the channel i was wondering for.... thanks from a birder
on the clothing, i think it depends on the species! hummingbirds and cardinals seem very very interested in me when i wear brighter colors, but some others are more wary of me with brighter colors.
Nice tips-especially about the cell phone. Wow things have changed in the last 20 years. I've been birding for over 40 years. Old birder and new to KZhead. I lived and birded for 17 years in China and just returned to Canada this year. Couldn't see KZhead in China until very recently. I swear by Roger Tory Peterson's original A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America. Never heard of Sibley until very recently. Anyhoo, great channel, I will be following
thanks so much for watching :)
A great video; you have packed a lot into less than a quarter of an hour and it is all sound advice. Being a Brit with only a scant knowledge of American birds, I would love to see an annotated list of the birds featured in your video, but I realize that this might be asking for too much.
interesting channel and good tips. a new friend from indonesia.
thanks a lot for watching :)
Great tips Adventure Ed and thanks....but I have one as well....I could not afford the very best binoculars out there but I wanted them....so I bought the best second hand Leica trinovid ones I could afford (like half price on Ebay)....but to do that its worth taking the time to look at what else that store sells .....I chose a store that specializes in cameras and optics only with 100% customer satisfaction and I am really glad with the result....100% agree with your comments re: buy the best you can.
Came for the tips and was pleased with the jokes. Sweet Packers shirt, I wear mine in the field too. GO! PACK! GO! And go birding because it's such a great way to get outdoors and have fun. :)
:) thanks so much for watching! if you have any more questions let me know!! and GO PACK GO!!
Great video Ed! 👍
Wow, I learnt so much!
thanks Hailey! did you subscribe and hit the notification bell?
yeah sub Hailey! ❤️
Great channel! Subscribed.
thank you so much! I greatly appreciate it! Many more nature videos to come!
I like the birdwatching
birdwatching is the best! sorry for the late reply--thanks for watching :)
Hi Faruk! I hope that, after the Pandemic, you may come to Bird, in Brazil.
Amazing 👍
This was very informative can’t wait to get outside
thank you so much for watching and good luck birding :)
Great tips, thank you! Greetings from Germany
thanks a lot!! :)
Great Inspiration for our Bird Channel Regards BRIDS INDIA TEAM
Birding from India, lovely video
great video
Interesting ...
thanks for withing! :)
My assumption is that colours that are warning signs in nature (red, orange) or really rarely found in nature (bright blue) would startle birds even more than white.
Great !
thanks for watching :)
cool video!
Love it
sorry for the late reply, thanks for watching :)
Thanks for sharing these tips to us :) Greetings from Ecuador :)
Thank you! I have more birding advice videos to come! I went to Ecuador in 2012, it is my favorite country I have ever been to! A dream for a biologist
Nice video!
Thanks for watching!!
Bird songs can be identified by ask google .. So Cool. Hey Google "what is that bird song?"
Love birds
me too :)
Can you put your link to your binoculars in the next video
ha ha ha, rude bird, mocking bird. :). thanks for the video
Thanks for watching 🙂
I like your video thumbnails a lot
Thanks a lot 🙂
So I definitely agree that white in particular alarms birds, I photograph backyard birds from my family room and if I'm wearing a white shirt the call to flight is immediate. Also I believe eye contact alarms most creatures including humans.
Eye contact is for sure an interesting thing to pay attention to. Thanks so much for mentioning that! And thanks for watching
Nice vid!
thanks a lot guys! I checked out ur channel and subbed! seems like you guys have had some great birding adventures! also, go packers, go badgers! I grew up in wisconsin as well!
Hey! Thanks, @@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit! And that's awesome, haha. Where did you go to get your MS? Also, what was your favorite place to bird in WI?
I went to grad school at TCU in Texas. In all honesty I haven't done a ton of birding in Wisconsin because I haven't lived in Wisconsin since before high school and I started birding in high school. but I love birding around Iron County where my grandparents live , so many cool places up north. what about you?
@@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit Cool! We're in the southern half of the state so we bird a lot in Milwaukee and Madison, but there are definitely some cool birds up north with the Grouse and Gray Jays, Crossbills, and other Boreal species. Let us know if you're ever in the state again and up for some birding!
10:26 - be sure to remove lens cap!
Hahaha yes good point! I knew someone would comment about that 😂 ! Thanks for watching :)
@@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit Thanks for the great videos!
no prob! I have many more birding videos to come. My next video will be a review of the best bird field guide books of North America
Magee Marsh is always loud and crowded during peak migration. Everyone wears all kinds of colors. You get schloads of birds there this time of year.
Honestly to describe this year of birding for me, it’s me vs the northern harrier
Hi Eddie, This is my first visit to your channel. (but won't be the last). My tip is to bird a particular place repeatedly. You'd be surprised how birds just present themselves when you know your surroundings well. Have you done a video w/ helpful hints for finding a bird that is calling, sounds close, but you can't locate?
On some range maps, in addition to the colored area, there is a dotted line outlining an additional area. What is this? An area where you might se them once in a while?
Sorry for the late reply. Yes-usually that area is a zone where they have been spotted but only spotted very rarely. The color coding on those maps helps you narrow down the chances of seeing a bird you are trying to identify
❤❤❤
kereeennn
thanks for watching :)
The same people complaining about using phones for birding are the same ones that use their phones for everything.
how do you balance birding and a social life? I feel like my friends and family are beginning to get annoyed with how often I want to go
I love this question! I think there are a number of ways to approach this. The first way is just to accept that some people will not understand and not care what they think, and if you are birding solo without them, good for you! The second way is to try to get people to go with you - in my experience, most people don't think birding is so bad after they have actually tried it, and some actually learn to love it. I think the best way to get people to try birding is to say that it relates to something like they already like. For example, I tell people it is a lot like hunting or collecting Pokemon. I also tell people it is just "hiking with a purpose"
10:25 LOL... IYKYK... 📷
I like birds
me too@ they are the best!
It would have been great if you id'd the birds you showed
+Gary Dietz great idea! Thanks a lot for the advice
+Gary Dietz sounds like a great idea. In future videos I will label the species on the birds. Thanks a lot for the feedback I appreciate it!
I went on a group bird walk and as a new birder I was somewhat frustrated. I couldn’t really see the birds that were being described before they flew away. I was amazed at how adept our leader was at IDing all the warblers by song. I want to acquire that talent.
susan cole I do a lot of my birding by ear-I’m a pretty lousy spotter, but I sang for 35 years, so my ear is pretty good. The common year-round birds (for me those would be American Robin, California Scrub-Jay, Steller’s Jay, Black Phoebe, Brewer’s Blackbirds, White-crowned and Savannah sparrows) are easy, while seasonal birds can sometimes take me a couple of outings to refamiliarize myself. A group leader who doesn’t see that everyone who’s interested in seeing the bird has seen it (assuming it hasn’t flown off), is not doing a proper job of it. If I’m going to a new area and there’s a bird with really specific habitat requirements that’s likely to be the (Lewis’s Woodpecker or California Thrasher, say), I will let the group leader know that this would be a life-bird for me, when that’s the case. Even as a member of a group, I will research a new area so as to know what I might have an opportunity to see.
Is ebird just for the USA or can you use it internationally? (UK, Asia etc)
You can use it anywhere! Sorry for the late reply
I am using it in India. With New aap is great.
What is the bird at 4:20m
Please tell me how to recognize kind of a bird what i see! I search birds on website but so many pictures. I can’t recognize birds.
You can start searching the birds you might find in that place so you're prepared when you find them. Or you can get into a birding text group to ask them to identify, I don't know if they exist in the US but here in Brazil there are some and the people there are very helpful .
小哥伦布 Buy a field guide, or even a couple of them. An actual book is better than a app when you’re starting out. Overall, I find Sibley’s to be the best, but Petersen’s is great for beginners because he will put to similar birds together (Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Hutton’s Vireo for instance) on the same page and then point out how to tell them apart-but Sibley’s drawings are unsurpassed. Generally, guide books use drawings rather than photos because it gives a generic look at a specific bird, since there can be small variations to the birds depending on where they’re seen.
Which binoculars are you using in this video specifically?
Manjot Singh Arneja If you know you’re going to stick with it and are ready to invest, I *highly recommend* Swarovskis, if you can afford it. If you can’t, spend as much as you’re able to get the best pair available in your price range-the payoff is huge.
I have a Canon Powershot SX60HS - I don't need binoculars...
Bird watching goes both ways. Watch out.
Lol!
Nutella Notella Which is why it’s a bad idea to point at the birds when in a group. I try to get people on a bird by using a clock reference (the bird is at 4:00, about two-thirds down the longest branch in that part of the tree, etc.). If it’s necessary to physically point out a bird, I use the outer edge of my flat hand-it’s a lot less threatening.
My binocular is my camera 😅 oly 100-400mm
you have the website kid birder which mine is the kid birder
awesome!
@@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit and I also have a youtube channel that's called thekidbirder
I use ghilie suit cammo I use jutetwine
What is the best time of birding?
What about red clothing?
0:29
In the only birder where I live 😢 and I'm only 12
Oh yeah? Where are you from?
@@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit im from belton sc
Awesome! I bet there are great birds there!
@@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit yes there are.
Debra Nelson Same !
He lost me when he said "I teach you how to enjoy nature." Bruh moment. Enjoying nature is not taught, its learned.
Get rid of the annoying background noise
Buy realtree, I always wear realtree hoddies and hats while birding. Best to look like the nature.