Trevor's Birding

Hint # 7 Write down what you see

Don’t trust your memory. It is very important to write down in a notebook what you have seen. For most birders this is merely a list of the different species seen. In addition to that, I also record the date, the place I saw the bird, the time and the latitude and longitude coordinates (more on that in another posting: Hint #15).

If you have seen something unusual, say a bird you’ve never seen before, a rare bird or a bird way out of its normal range, it is very important to take detailed notes of your observation, including a sketch if necessary. This will help authenticate your sighting if anyone questions it, especially if reported to a bird organisation as a rarity.

When I was recording sightings for the Atlas of Australian birds I submitted several entries that were later questioned. The bird I recorded was out of its range and I didn’t realise it at the time and I took no notes. I was therefore unable to prove my sightings and they were rejected. You may consider this a burden or unnecessary. That’s fine if you want your hobby to be casual and relaxing. Just hope that you never see a really rare bird, say like the first ever occurrence of a species in your country!

For more hints on how to be a birder click here. 

Silver Gull

Hint # 6 Observe the General Appearance of the Bird

Look at the general appearance of a bird. On seeing a bird the observer usually tries to identify it immediately. As you become more experienced you will notice certain features of the bird that help to narrow down the possibilities. This is before you consult a field guide.

Ask yourself some key questions.

• What is its size? Is it small like a sparrow, about the size of a magpie or large like a pelican? Your response to this question will narrow down the possibilities considerably.
• What is its body shape? Does it have the general shape of a duck, an eagle or a crow? Is it thin and sleek like a honeyeater, or fat and dumpy like a dove or pigeon? Does it have a straight beak, or is it curved.
• What is its main colour? Is it all black, all white, black and white, mainly yellow, does it have blue on the wings? This question narrows down the possibilities even further.
• What is it doing? Is it feeding on the ground? Is it on the water? Is it feeding from a flower? Is it high in the canopy of a tree? Is it looking for insects and spiders under the bark of trees? All these questions help to narrow the field even further.
• How does it fly? Does it fly quickly and directly like a pigeon? Does it hover on the air or glide on air currents like kites and eagles? Is it restless and always on the move like a flycatcher?
• What is its call like? Is it soft and cooing like a dove, or harsh and noisy like a parrot? Is its call song-like and repeated often or is it mostly silent?

For more hints on how to be a birder click here.

Australian Pelicans, Rocky Gully Wetlands