Want to go Birding?

Or as you may know it, bird-watching?  It's a lovely pursuit: brings you closer to nature, gets you some low-stress exercise, puts you in a warm community of people who share your interest.  Here are some simple rules to help you get started.

Things you will need:

  1. Binoculars
  2. Spotting Scope
  3. Notebook
  4. Two or three forms of ID *
  5. Camera(s)
  6. Field Guide
Some do's and don'ts:
  1. Be quiet, and keep some distance.  You're trying not to scare or stress the birds.
  2. Never wear a hoodie. * 
  3. Keep a list of birds you have seen.
  4. Be very careful birding at dawn or nightfall ("crepuscular hours," to birders).  You may be seen as a threat. *
  5. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.
  6. Expect to be confused with the other birder like you. *
* - Only applies to Black birders.  Whites are privileged to do as they please with regard to these items.


Excerpted from:


via boing-boing