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Birding, Birdwatching & Twitching!

Birding, birdwatching & twitching ARE one & the same, birding & birdwatchers are generally very laidback & social activities, whereas twitching typically involves a more serious approach, where great distances are sometimes travelled to view a rare bird, which is then "ticked off" from a list!.

The word "birding" dates back to the 17th century whereby it was used to describe the hunting of fowl with firearms, the term "birdwatching" was actually not recognised until the early 20th century, and the poor term "twitching" actually began in the 1950's and was named after Howard Medhurst, a famous British birdwatcher who unfortunately "twitched" a lot!.

The terms "birding" & "birdwatching" today are used very flexibly & interchangeably, although many followers prefer the term "birding", both because it does not exclude the auditory aspects(listening) of enjoying birds, and because it does not have any of the associated negative connotations of merely watching!, but portrays much higher degrees of follower participation.

Ok, thats the techinal stuff out of the way!, now lets move onto the fun stuff.

"Birding for Beginners"

This task in itself can be quite challenging because it is not easy to identify them especially when they are so many feet away from the ground. Since birds are energetic and active animals, you need a clear and quick eye to be able to see as many details as possible in such as very short period of time!.

Other problems that you might encounter, especially if you are a first time birdwatcher, is the dim light shaded by trees, the glint of sunlight that can affect your sight, and the hidden places where birds go to play. So, when you are into birding, it is always best to have a basic knowledge about bird's attitudes and observe them carefully. You might not name them properly the first time but you definitely can the next time if you pay proper attention to observing them.

* Most important - "don't stand out in a crowd!", that is to say wear clothing that allows you to melt into the surroundings, "that's just common-sense" I hear you say, but the amount of brightly colored clothing I have personally seen so called birdwatchers wearing, some of which is equally as scarey to the human eye as it must be to birds!.

* Always try & focus on a single bird. When you are birding, there will always be many distractions, but try to spot only one bird that catches your attention. Once you have seen one, never take your eyes off it because it might fly to a place where you cannot see it.

* Without doubt Birdwatching is far more enjoyable with the use of binocular or optics as they are also known. This is because this will help you view and observe birds better. For beginners, the Best Birdwatching Binoculars are one of the basic tools you need in order to get the hang of the activity. Aside from helping them see birds closely and clearly, a pair of birding binoculars will also help them to adjust in viewing moving objects.

* In most birdwatching centers, beginners are given a field guide in a form of a booklet or brochure so they can identify the birds to be seen at that particular center, once they have seen one. Once you know what is it, take time to observe its physical details as well as its behaviors and mannerisms. Make sure that you observe the bird's movements, markings, feeding habits, songs, color, and size so you can easily identify it the next time you see it.

* Make sure that you listen carefully to the bird's calls and song. Although listening for a bird's song is easy, it doesn't stay long in a person's memory. What you should do is to listen intently when the bird calls or sings and play the bird's song in your mind repetitively. Listening to a bird's call and song is important because it can help you identify the bird even without seeing it!.

* Take time to estimate the bird's shape and general size. The average shape and size of the bird will give you a huge clue in finding out which family it comes from. In birding, once you can recognize from the size and shape of the bird what kind is it, then you are well on the way to being a successful birdwatcher..

* Pay attention to the bill characteristics and facial markings of the bird in sight. This is one of the most difficult things to do because the heads of almost all types of birds are the smallest part of them. They are also always on the move so it is doubly difficult to take note of any unique markings on their faces.

* Part of visiting any place is seeing the birds and animals that live there. They can add a touch of exotica to even the most ordinary spots. Ontario Vacation Destinations will help you find places to use those new birding binoculars you just bought.

Relax & enjoy it, you are on the way to becoming a birding, birdwatcher OR even a twitcher!.....

Tell Us About It!

We would really love to hear from you about what were YOUR earliest experiences of birding, please tell us all about it here, our readers will love sharing with you!.