Birdwatching for Beginners

I stumbled upon the world of birding quite by accident. This is how my journey of Birdwatching as a beginner began. In January 2024, when I was living in Greater Noida. I would often see these elegant white birds near my home, but I had no idea they were egrets.

A few weeks later, I visited my old friend in Almora, Uttarakhand. He took me to the beautiful Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary,where I spotted the most adorable little blue bird. I was instantly captivated, but I had no clue what it was.

Once back in Delhi, I decided to join a birding group. A quick Google search led me to the East Delhi Foodie Birders, led by the friendly Mr. Prassana. He welcomed me to the group with kindness.

Through the group, I learned about a birding course called "Barefoot Birders" organized by WWF-India. I jumped at the chance to learn more. The course was a perfect mix of classroom knowledge and hands-on field trips. Our mentor, Nikhil John, a fantastic naturalist who made learning fun and engaging. We not only gained valuable birding skills but also formed lasting friendships.

If you're just getting started with birding, here are 10 tips to help you that really helped me:

• Start Small: Begin by observing birds in your own backyard or local park. Familiarize yourself with common species in your area. You can't tell if a bird in your backyard is a rare bird unless you know the common birds.

• Invest in Binoculars: A good pair of binoculars is essential for birdwatching. Choose a pair with a magnification of 8x or 10x and a large objective lens for better light-gathering. I personally use Nikon M7 Monarch 8x42.

• Learn Bird Calls: Bird calls and songs are unique to each species. Familiarize yourself with common bird calls to help identify birds by sound. This one can take a long timead it can get tricky. My advice: Don't try to learn all calls, focus on one bird at a time. If you know you're going for a field observation to look for the Indian Pitta, then learn its call a day before you go.

• Use a Field Guide: A field guide is a valuable tool for identifying birds. Look for a guide specific to your region that includes illustrations, descriptions, and range maps. I A pictorial Field Guide to Birds of India by Om Books International.

• Join a Birdwatching Group: Connecting with other birdwatchers can be a great way to learn new tips and explore new birding locations. This is essential to learn from seniors. Nothing like learning on the job from the best.

• Visit Local Bird Sanctuaries: Bird sanctuaries provide excellent opportunities to observe a variety of bird species in their natural habitats.

• Be Patient: Birdwatching requires patience. Don't get discouraged if you don't see the bird you're looking for right away.

• Keep a Bird Journal: Record your bird sightings, including the date, location, and any notable observations. This will help you track your progress and identify trends. If you want to do this digitally, I recommend using citizen science apps like ebird and iNaturalist.

• Learn Basic Bird Behavior: Understanding basic bird behavior, such as feeding habits, nesting, and migration patterns, can aid in bird identification and observation. There are courses at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• Enjoy the Process: Birdwatching is a rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. The most important thing is to have fun and appreciate the beauty of nature.

If you want to increase your knowledge on birds and learn to identify birds in India quickly I highly recommend this book bundle. You can buy it on Amazon. I personally have both these books and they helped me a lot!

For beginner I also reccomed using a decent binocular. I personally use the Nikon M7 Monarch but that is on the pricey side. Another great alternative is Nikon's Prostaff.

If you're looking for something for your kids that doesn't break the bank, try the colourful Nikon Aculon. Its good for kids because it has a single hinge, it comes in red, yellow and green colours and is easier to manage compared to the expensive ones.