This article will cover, briefly and simply, a few items and techniques that can very quickly make someone a better birder. There are approximately 950 species of bird that live in North America. Many of these birds are easily spotted; there is no need to go on an expedition of Shackletonian proportion, unless one is so inclined. If food, water, and shelter are available, a great variety of birds can be attracted to nearly any locale, be it urban, rural, or somewhere in between.

 

 Food, water, and shelter can be provided in the form of bird feeders, birdbaths, and birdhouses, AKA nesting boxes.

 

The attraction of many birds to water is often understated. A well-placed birdbath can do just about as much as a feeder to entice birds. In autumn, when food is plentiful and birds have less need for human-supplied food, a birdbath will likely be the most popular backyard spot among the avian set. These provisions - food, water, and shelter - draw birds to particular areas (like those that can be seen from a living room window), which makes viewing them staggeringly easier.

 

To be more species-specific, any or all of those aspects can be fine-tuned. Various fruits, nuts, or seeds may be offered; a fountain or drip in a birdbath could make a difference; birdhouses built to certain specifications encourage certain birds. Having created a miniature bird sanctuary, the greenhorn birder might want to get an even closer look at these engaging creatures. Approaching birds is nigh impossible, so a pair of binoculars may be in order.

 

 Binoculars range in price from "light dinner for two" to "Caribbean cruise for two". The old adage "you get what you pay for" does not always apply; there is no need for a newbie to go buy the most expensive pair. A better expression in this case is "look before you leap". A potential buyer of binoculars should first consider how they are to be used, and then he or she should try a few pairs to see which are most comfortable.

 

An important factor to consider is the magnification power of the binoculars. Binoculars will be labeled with a pair of numbers, like "7x35", "8x42", or "10x40". The first number indicates the magnification power. Many people go straight for the high-powered binoculars, unaware that sometimes, less is more. Again, it all depends on how the binoculars are to be used.

 

 While 10-power binoculars give far greater magnification, they are much more difficult to hold steady, and they are incapable of focusing on objects closer than about 20 feet. 7- or 8- power binoculars provide much better close focus and steadier images, but they cannot even approach the sight-distance of 10-powers. Backyard birders, because of the distances involved, are usually better served by the 7- or 8- powers, but it is certainly a matter of choice.

 

One last set of tools recommended for the birding neophyte comprises a field guide and checklist. A field guide is unbelievably helpful in identifying birds, and a checklist helps a birder keep track of sightings and set goals. That goal is not necessarily to complete the checklist, as it will contain the names of birds that only accidentally occur in a given area.

 

"Accidental", in birding lingo, means that that particular type of bird has been spotted less than five times ever, or less than three times in the last 30 years, in the stated region. The goal is more likely to be one of personal exploration. It is part of an adventurous search for knowledge and beauty in the world.

 

 Essentially, this article describes five very simple steps to becoming a better birder.

 

 

 Whether someone completes all five, or even just one, they will see noticeable results and they will feel a little closer to nature. As any accomplished birder will say, it feels great.