July 2020 • Nebraskaland 61
Birding is a hobby enjoyed by many across the world.
If you enjoy the outdoors, the pursuit of adventure and
science, along with quiet times in the woods, then birding
might be for you. Birding can become a lifetime pursuit. It is
appropriate for all ages, offering a pastime that will keep you
outside and discovering for years to come.
When I first started birding I didn't have a clue about how
to get started. I began by looking for birds that I was familiar
with already, which were waterfowl. I started studying and
identifying them, and then I moved on to shore birds that
come through Nebraska in the spring. Slowly, I added to my
knowledge of birds with the help of field guides. A few good
books are The Sibley Guide to Birds, Birds of Nebraska Field
Guide and Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America.
The internet has made birding a lot easier compared
to when I first started. There are many apps available for
download that can help you identify birds from the field;
most of these apps help identify birds by region, size, color,
sound, photos and more. Some good apps include Audubon,
Merlin, Ibird Pro, Sibley, Peterson, eBird and Chirp O Magic,
and many of which are free.
Once you've obtained a few field guides and apps, you'll
need an inexpensive pair of binoculars. If later you decide to
delve deeper into birding, you may want to purchase better
binoculars and/or a camera to showcase the beauty of the
birds you find.
We are fortunate to have many places to find birds;
you'll find various species of birds in unique landscapes
across Nebraska, including city parks, state parks,
recreation areas, wildlife management areas and nature
centers. There is also a Nebraska birding trails network at
nebraskabirdingtrails.com that offers many resources for
birders, such as ecological regions to go birding, maps and
birding links.
Start birding slowly. It's easy to get overwhelmed. Putting
up a bird feeder and watering area in your yard will help
get you started. Find out what birds are in your area during
different times of the year by using location maps in field
guides and apps, then set out and see what you can find.
Take a friend with you or someone with birding knowledge
to make the experience more fun. Once you get going, you'll
find that birding will become an activity that will constantly
pull you back outside to find more. You'll learn to have a
better appreciation for birds.
BECOMING A BIRDER – A LIFELONG HOBBY
By Julie Geiser
PHOTO
BY
JULIE
GEISER
A group of children birding at the Fort Kearny Outdoor Expo.
