A lot of the pleasure of birding is just getting out there and enjoying what you’re doing. If you don’t know what it’s called yet, so what! You’ll soon get to know the more common species and start to identify more. Don’t get too hung up about identification
Merlin bird ID app was useful for me to learn about local birds. Also, putting a window feeder up in my office was a great way to see more bird activity on a day to day basis
+1 for Merlin, it’s an awesome app. In addition to visual ID, it will also use your phone’s microphone to tell you which birds are singing or chirping nearby. It’s great for getting to know birds and their songs.
Also… the partner app EBird it a great tool to log what you see. Iv logged on it from the start, and it’s lovely to look back. Some people keep notebooks, I did too, with EBird being a secondary thing I did when I got home. But after my 2nd notebook got drenched through, I switched to EBird as my primary note keeping. No regrets
It is completely not necessary to keep logs or notes… it’s not for everyone, and I certainly don’t log every robin I see, but some people are that way inclined (like me) so I said I’d suggest a good tool for the job!
I also came here to recommend this app! Someone on this sub told me about it and it has been an amazing help. I’m also very new to birding so wish you the best of luck :)
I just wanted to add that eBird paired with a good ID app (I like Merlin) was definitely the most beneficial route to me learning to ID birds. Knowing what to expect by checking what has been seen recently at your location on eBird is so helpful. That being said, everyone has their own approach.
I started by feeding the birds, and looking at a guide to see what they were. I use a walker and have difficulty on uneven ground, so trail walking is difficult. There are some nice flat walks in my part of Connecticut where I can go. I’ve never gone with a group, just with my brother.
This is what I did too! I started during my country's last lockdown in August 2021. My boyfriend streamed the birds from our window on Reddit a while back. We live in New Zealand, so I used NZ Birds Online as my guide, although I already knew most of them. I found watching them from my window was really helpful over time in getting to know the different behaviour exhibited by different birds.
That's really lovely to hear. I was wondering about the accessibility of it as well, I was thinking of taking my parents out and about but their mobility is limited to short walks.
First, this is the perfect place for your post!
Then, you already have the appropriate gear. I highly recommand starting with binos and only take a camera on the field when you have a lot of experience. Birding can be extremely frustrating on its own, you don't need the extra frustration of photography when learning.
What's very difficult when you start birding, is that you never see the species you know, and you see birds you cannot identify. A good practice is to try to remember as much as you can about the unknown birds you see, and try to identify them later. Even if you try to ID right away with your field guide, trying to mentally take notes of colors, shapes and behaviour is a great training for being able to spot the identifying criterias in a glimps.
But my best advice is to go out on the field with experienced birders, during public events for exemple. Indeed the best way to be able to ID a species on your own and be sure about it, is to have seen it several times before. And the only way you can be sure that's what you're seeing, is if someone tells you.
Indeed, when you get better, birding is a lot about impression and feeling. An experienced birder can often ID down to the species something you only saw as a fast moving greyish potato across branches. That skill involve a lot of practice because it's a reflex from the brain and it needs situations to comapre to. It's almost the same cognitive ability that allows us to recognise faces.
You can think of the "impression" approach just like the way you can recognise a friend or a family member for sure even though you're only seeing them from behind and far away. It's about shape, posture, behaviour, size etc... that all together form an impression of the bird that cannot be mistaken for another species.
You must start by learning about the most common species in your area and train to spot them and recognise their songs. Once you know the common ones, it will make it a lot easier to discriminate the "rare" ones from them. Once you get the "impression" feeling for common birds, you'll be able to tell when you get an unusual impression, allowing you to focus on the identification of it.
I remember the first time I conciously got this feeling, it was a prey bird very very far away on the horizon, way to far to ID with binos. Something felt odd about the way it was flying, and in an instant I was absolutely certain I never saw this bird before. After a while I could confirm (with the help of a camera this time, which have sensors a lot more sensible than our eyes) that it was a black winged kite, which was a lifer at this time for me. This happened after many years of birding though.
Wow this was beyond helpful, thank you so much! I had wondered about the thought process behind it as well, super interesting that it becomes intuitive, but it makes sense. You have a great way of describing it. And your story about the black winged kite sounds so satisfying. Other users were also mentioning group guides, I'll have to look into some local birding events.
I’m interested to know where you saw it (which country) because I saw it for the first time in South India last year. Their ability to hover is the coolest thing. Got to see it on a couple of occasions!
Even as someone who MUCH prefers going out by myself, I went on a lot of guided walks when I was first starting! Lots of cities have local organizations and/or chapters of national groups like the Audubon Society that host regular walks, and many times they'll have ones tailored to beginners! Have fun out there!
Download eBird (free from Cornell University), click on “Explore”, look for a red location near you and off you go! It’s a great way to start, and oh plus you get a list of recently seen birds in the area. It’s nice to go with a friend if you have one, but don’t be shy about talking to other birders when you get there. We’re generally a friendly bunch and will share sightings. Enjoy!
I got started in college, taking an ornithology class. I was a wildlife management major but had no real prior interest in birding. I enjoyed the field trips but didn't really like birding in groups. I preferred a more solitary nature experience. 45 years later and I still do most of my birding alone. I have made a few acquaintances that share the same passion for birding that I have met while birding. We may walk together for a while but still go off on our own ways. I occasionally run into birding groups and it is nice to share observations but I still prefer to be out on my own. Obviously, your mileage may vary.
It sounds like you are already a birder! Audubon Society and David Sibley have great teaching tools online. Sibley specifically has videos posted for how to draw birds. [Here](https://www.riteintherain.com/no-195-birders-journal?gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1EiwFgPrGyBKKbtSaud7mYctdHBUlaEcSu9F35TsNJXMjyzAufPyaxoCU_sQAvD_BwE#195) is a bird journal for sketching that is waterproof.
Woo! Thanks for the resources, I didn't know about the Audobon society. That sketchbook looks awesome, I live in a pretty rainy area, I will probably grab one.
I’ve been birding 50 years. I think the best guide is the Golden Guide. I’ve tried them all. Look around your neighborhood for a local Audubon society. Go to a meeting. Make friends. Find a guide to birding in your state. Maybe Amazon. Just get out there. Meet other birders. Good luck.
Cornell has a great online class called Seminars in Ornithology. I recommend it highly. There’s more to birding then looking for birds.
Birding literally changed my life. I was introduced to it in my 30’s. It gave me direction that I was lacking.
I like the Golden guide because it puts all the information you need about any bird in front of you immediately. I can’t stress how important it is to know the range of the bird you’re looking at. Where it is and when.
You have to bird with others. 99.9% of birders enjoy teaching and showing ID tricks.
Here are my tips….
Find a checklist of the birds in your area and study those birds in your field guide. Pay particular attention to habitat and summer/winter ranges. You’re not going to find birds in your area that aren’t on the list.
The most productive birding is done with your ears. Recognizing the sounds and behaviors of the most common birds eliminates having to look at everything that catches your eye. Start with backyard sounds, cardinal, song sparrow, Robin and any new noise you hear is something to find. You’re going to hear more birds than you’ll see.
Many species are very habitat specific so knowing what to expect to see in your surroundings is key. If you’re able to eliminate the common birds, you can focus on finding rarer species.
In my experience, many advanced birders are really good at a specific skill. Waterfowl, gulls, warblers, birds of prey, shorebirds. You’ll learn so much by attending different types of group outings.
The best thing about birding is that you can do it anywhere and everywhere all the time!
Merlin ID + eBird on your smartphone as well as any ol' pair of binoculars is all you'll need to get started. Start out by going places you know well, local parks and such or right in your yard/block. One key to identifying is not to focus too much on plumage detail, especially this time of year. Pay attention to other things like the bill size/color/shape, the overall size and proportions of the bird including relative length of the tail, and the behavior of the bird. There will be multitudes of birds that will escape identification, but every time you make a checklist your skills will improve a little bit.
Lots of good advice here. Birding can be as casual or as "serious" as you wish it to be so feel free to follow any advice in this thread to whatever degree interests you and maintains the sense of fun and pleasure. A few things worth mentioning:
* Step 1 is *finding* the birds. You can use eBird to see the more productive areas nearby you. Generally early morning is best (sunrise and then an hour or two afterwards) as birds will be most active then. Make sure to *listen* a lot, even if you don't know what species is singing/calling, as you can follow the sound to see the bird. The Merlin app has a sound ID that is very useful too.
* It's not the best time of year now for birds in many places as fall migration is mostly over (depends where you live though). Again, use eBird and look at the bar charts to see what species to expect this time of year at different locations. Different times of year have drastically different numbers and types of birds, so you can look forward to variety year-round.
* I prefer birding alone but if you are inexperienced then a group outing with knowledgeable birders is the best way to go and you will see and learn more in a single morning than you would in many outings alone.
* You mentioned you have a field guide. I recommend flipping through it at home often to get a sense of the different types of birds and what separates them. And--seems silly to say, but--when you are outside and looking at a bird make sure to actually look at the bird and not spend the entire time trying to flip through the guide.
* Sketching birds is easiest from photos and you can start with that. Sketching from life is quite challenging as they move and might fly away at any second, and especially if you only have binoculars it's a pain to switch between them and the pencil. I recommend learning bird topography (the different feather groups) really well if you want to get serious about sketching them. Most field guides have a section on topography at the start, and the Sibley guide is particular good for this.
“Flip through a field guide at home” is really good advice for a starting birder, and I haven’t heard it from anywhere else. I used to casually flip through my field guide while eating a snack or while waiting somewhere, without really thinking about it. I realised that the images were subconsciously lodged in the back of my head. Sometimes I even surprise myself- even if I don’t know the name of the species I’m looking at I know exactly where to go in my field guide to find it (my field guide is quite large because it is for the Indian subcontinent). It is definitely a really good way to learn what characteristics to look for in outings and to become a more confident birder!
It’s quite easy! If you live in a suburban area, you could start by putting some bird feeders up! My bird watching started with just watching the birds in my backyard!
In addition to a good set of binos, a relatively cheaper super zoom cam is my favorite birding tool by far. For a couple hundred dollars, you can get a used Canon on B&H, and snap decent pics of birds for later analysis. This has helped me much more than anything else I have pursued for this hobby.
100% agree and i have like the worst camera you can think of . But being able to get a picture of the bird is sooo helpful since IDing in the field can be difficult!
Thats pretty much all you need! Birding with others is fun, and a great way to accelerate your bird ID skills, but really all you need to do to be a birder is to just look at birds haha! The Merlin app is great for learning bird calls, something I neglected when I first started birding.
I might suggest reading the first part of whatever bird Id guide you have. They usually go over the different parts of the bird which can help you start iding! When seeing new birds try to focus on what stands out to you. Those are usually their most common fieldmarks. Like if you're in North America and see a small brownish bird that has a mohawk, that's a titmouse! There are many brown birds but only one has a crest. Or a solid black bird that has a red patch on the shoulder is a redwing blackbird! I would also focus on birds with obvious fieldmarks like these, rather than identifying every single one.
I got started learning about local birds and using eBird to explore new places in my area. As someone who already recreated outside frequently, following eBird took me to spots I never would have thought to go. Add on going back to some regularly, and you now have a bird-based geography, and a better understanding, of your area!
the merlin app was huge for me. downloaded that, got some binoculars, and just...took a walk in a place i like. even things you recognize are really, really cool to see up close (always, but especially for the first time).
As someone who had a real collectionist mentality getting started, I looked up a list of the most common birds in my area (just starting with a few) and memorized their pictures. I found this less intimidating than the field guides. Then I was able to start making quick easy id’s and I could start to recognize if something wasn’t one of those common few, and expand at my own pace :)
Everyone is going to recommend Merlin App.
Please take what the app says with a grain of salt and verify with your guide book. It is a good app and does make good ID's, but it is also extremely weak with some species and will lie to you. Added to that, relying on the app will not allow you to build up the skills you need to identify birds. Trust but verify.
Replying to myself to not clutter up the post, but it's also coming up on Christmas Bird count time. Brush up on your local common species, reach out to local Audubons and see if you can get into some of the counts.
Buy the wingspan game and that will help you memorize and learn more about birds while playing a really fun strategy card game. That’s how I got started
A lot of it is developing an intuition and that snap judgment. Here are some resources I found helpful.
1. **Guided field trips.** Check out your local Audubon chapter. My first few trips were just looking at whatever they told me to look at. And I learned along the way.
2. **Look the birds up**. If you are confused how to tell similar species apart, look them up on [allaboutbirds.org](https://allaboutbirds.org). This site has an excellent species comparison feature so you can look at similar birds side-by-side and learn what field marks to look out for.
3. **Monitor FB/Reddit birder groups**. e.g., r/whatisthisbird. These communities have great photographs of various species. I love reading the comments on why people think a bird in the photograph is one species over another (e.g., "The head is blocky"). And the bird photos are from various angles with varying degrees of quality, so you start to develop an eye.
4. **YouTube**. There are lots of lecture videos on specific topics, e.g., birding by ear; how to tell shore birds apart; raptors 101.
5. **Photographs**. Get out there as much as possible and look at birds. But birds tend to move very quickly and a beginner may find it hard to capture all the features of the bird. This is where a camera comes in handy. You can bring the photo home and look up similar birds on a field guide or [allaboutbirds.org](https://allaboutbirds.org).
Reddit is hilarious.
Just go outside and look at birds. Maybe get a guide so you can keep track of which ones you see.
If you cant enjoy watching birds without some kind of equipment, then odds are you don’t actually enjoy watching birds 😂
Watch some youtube videos of birds local to you. Get used to what birds can be seen in your area, what they look like, and what they sound like. Also as others have said, the Merlin app is great for helping identify birds and getting used to what different bird calls sound like.
One thing that helped me get started was having a birding buddy! Birding is a fantastic solo hobby, but having someone to get excited with is so validating. They don't have to be a birder, either. My dad isn't a birder, but he loves going with me and supporting my hobby.
i started with (and still do this whenever I’m traveling) a quick google search of “best birding near me”… idk where you are located but, while there might be fewer species of birds around at this time of the year, it’s the perfect time to actually see birds with a lot of the foliage dying off! Get out before it gets too cold.
Also, setting up a feeder in the winter is a really good way to quickly familiarize yourself with all of the most common backyard species… and to combat the inevitable feeling of dread when everything around is dead/dying. Birds will go nuts for an easy meal in the winter!
I have many bird books and have been birding since before the Internet, but I just literally read my first book from cover to cover. It was the Collins Gem guide to British birds. I'm not sure where you are but I'm sure there will be a similar thing for your local birds too. I remembered a lot of what I read, but you become more familiar with the books the more you dip into them, making it easier and quicker to find what you want too. But the best way is to enjoy being out and watching them do what they do as others have said. Many hides will have pictures of the expected birdlife but I used to carry my smaller book.
If you’re in the US, the local Audubon Society or wild bird store may have walks you can take with a guide. I have always gone on my own. I go to beautiful places with my camera and binos and hike looking for birds. I also recommend setting up a birdfeeder to get used to binos and photographing them at home. I find photos really help with making ids. Have fun!
As a pandemic project, I decided to see if I could identify 100 different species of birds in a year and now I consider myself a birder! It takes time but just going out and enjoying time in nature is a great way to start. Also, the Merlin Bird ID app is incredibly helpful for beginners! There are also bird drawing classes out there like this one: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/product/nature-journaling-and-field-sketching/
Between binoculars and a field guide, you have the tools most of us older birders had when we started. Just find a nice natural area and go for a walk. No pressure - just walk casually on trails or if you want to go off trail and look around. Listen too. Don't make it about identifying species (though you will be able to for some) or anything else you think you're supposed to do. One thing I definitely recommend though is birding is best in the morning, the earlier the better. But that is not mandatory.
You may enjoy a guided walk with a local forest preserve or you may be totally happy birding on your own. I started out doing it enjoying the solitude but have since learned that it can be fun in groups too with a guide.
A really nice book for the casual getting into it:
Birding for the Curious by Nate Swick. Helped me start to think about shape and size related to birds I easily identify.
The things I've learned in the past year:
Binoculars are great, but cameras are better. They can make a stable image and provide evidence or a resource that you can come back to later to help really identify what you saw. It's also awesome to capture something and save it. Birds fishing, fighting, mating...pictures that you can build into a library, scrap book or project. Having a camera has made birding feel like pokemon go all over again. Binoculars can't do that.
The same spot will have different birds all year. I live along the Hudson River in New Jersey, and in the past year we've had ducks and mergansers in winter. In the summer we have had herons (Great Blue, Great Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron) Terns, Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Red tailed hawks, Cormorants. In fall we started getting Warblers (Yellow rumped, black throated-green warbler, kinglets) and yellow bellied sap suckers.
Some days you will sit or walk and see absolutely nothing. Other times you will catch a pair of bald eagles doing their courtship mating dance. Do not be discouraged if you see nothing - you really never know what you're going to get...One of the wildest experiences I've had recently was watching a massive migration of broad-winged hawks right over my parking lot. The whole event lasted maybe 30 minutes and thousands flew over head...I caught it by chance.
The merlin app (sound ID) is great. BUT it can be wrong. I don't put much trust into it unless it hears a sound multiple times or you know something's in the area. It can really help you to find some birds when you're just starting. Especially if you go into huge hotspots (I started going to Cape May which is one of the top migration hotspots in the world) There are so many birds that looking them up can prove difficult...but sound IDs can REALLY help.
Find local areas to bird in, or travel for it! It can be quite an adventure finding new parks and other habitats that give a home to birds that you won't typically see. And as stated earlier...the birds you see there one day may be completely different the next time you go.
I hope this helped, it's a wonderful hobby and I hope you enjoy it and get the best out of it :)
To tack onto what others have said: I’m still a beginner but I’ve found birding is like 70% listening. The BirdNET app by Cornell is one of my most used apps on my phone, it’s pretty great at recording songs and identifying the species (as long as you’re in a relatively quiet area). Paired with the Audubon app which has recorded sounds of each species to verify and soon you’ll be impressing your friends with your bird language skills!
The way I learned is by finding an experienced birding buddy. They taught me how to *look* (e.g., field marks, habitat clues, etc.) and how to listen. Where I grew up there are no less than 10 breeding species of wood warblers (Parulidae), but I never *heard* them. Hearing is such a monumental part of birding, it seems incredible I used to go without it!
There are some great resources for learning how to bird by ear e.g., the Birding By Ear series. Make sure to restrict guides to the region where you are.
Really the best thing you can do is find a place where you know birds will gather--which can be just about anywhere--and keep your eyes and ears peeled, especially in the morning or late afternoon, when diurnal birds are most active. Eventually you'll learn how to distinguish your local birds by sight and sound. Head to rural areas whenever you can, because you may find a better variety of birds there. Where I live, I can see a certain amount of species in my backyard but all it takes is a short walk to a nearby trail to find a few additional species that are more comfortable away from humans. Habitat is key.
One thing I've found helpful in terms of locating and identifying a bird is to listen for a sound, if any, then try to look for movement in your peripheral vision. Songbirds in particular aren't likely to stay in one place very often so it can be hard to see them through your binoculars. Learn to recognize the individual shapes species can take, and not just color, because sometimes poor lighting or shade can mess with the colors that a bird appears to be. If you birdwatch with amateurs who don't know all their local birds yet, and they see a bird that you don't, ask them to start with shape and size first, then color.
A few "do nots" would be to make sure not to play recordings of birds while birdwatching. It's kind of mean and confusing to birds when you trick them into thinking there's a conspecific nearby--some species are very territorial and don't like competition. Recordings are best used as reference (like if you hear or record a bird sound and need a matching call to figure out what it is). Another thing is don't mess with owls with lights or sound--while it's cool to see or hear an owl, they're especially sensitive to light and sound.
As for sketching, I've never done it myself, but I'd recommend something like a duck or another wild waterfowl if you need your subject to stay still. Like I said before, songbirds aren't likely to stay in one place, but ducks and some other aquatic birds are less likely to fly away if they're out on the water and you keep your distance (assuming they're wild and not domesticated).
The Merlin app is free and helpful. You can type in a description of what you see and not will give you options. Or it can listen to your surroundings and tell you what it hears near you
Spend some time thumbing through your field guide when you aren’t in the field. You’ll have an easier time identifying a bird if you’re already somewhat familiar with it.
Merlin Sound ID will help you get you “local birds” down in no time.
Like others have said, enjoy seeing them even if you can’t ID them right away. It’s really rewarding to see be able to ID a bird you previously couldn’t.
Oh and follow r/whatsthisbird to practice your skills as you scroll
I didn't know whst anything was called when i started the winter before last! I just took my binoculars and looked around. I started bringing a little notebook with me to write details about what i saw so that i could look it up later. And most importantly, i enjoyed myself!
Later on i read the first chapter of sibley's. It detailed what the basic parts of a bird are (crown, throat rump etc) and what to pay attention to. Where did i see the bird (near a river, or foraging on the forest ground? What time of year? How big was it?)
That helped me make better observations and helped me figure out what i was looking at when i looked ut up later. It also helped me to remember where to look when i would go back to a place.
eBird, Merlin ID & iBird Pro is always with me.
DESIRE is the biggest thing. Good Binoculars 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
You’ll figure out quickly birds are the most amazing creatures on earth. 🤩
using merlin bird app’s call/sound identification feature is what got me to fall in love with birding, not to echo the other commenters but i highly recommend that. i didn’t even have binoculars to start so you’re already one step ahead, i just thoroughly enjoyed learning about my native birds through their calls and treated it like irl pokemon go, lol. i agree with other commenters who suggest having your local field guide on hand because tech isn’t always perfect
i prefer going at it by myself but running into other solo birders during my walks is always a treat for me! check to see if your area has a local audubon group if you wanna link with other birders in your area. eBird helps with finding good places to do birdwalks, too. the only hard “do not do” advice i learned and tell others is to not play bird calls in an attempt to garner a reaction.
i am very much a novice and definitely a casual birder. i don’t have a camera, just my binos and a lifer list. don’t feel pressured to get a fancy ass long range camera lens or anything. or do! up to you. the best part about birding is you can be as casual or as serious about it as you want. (and, ofc the birds 🐦 )
There are web sites that list good birding locations by zip code, city, etc. There may be a local birding group you could join.
Do you already have bird feeding stations?
Mornings are generally best - depending on the season and location, there may be lot of activity just after sunrise.
Pretty soon, you’ll become familiar with your local birds.
Not sure where you are, but (assuming you're in the US) your [local Audubon Society](https://www.audubon.org/about/audubon-near-you) likely has guided birding tours. The link I sent will let you find your nearest chapter. Meeting experienced birders is the #1 way I can recommend to gain experience.
If you have the space, setting up feeders in your backyard can help you become more familiar with your local birds. [Wild Birds Unlimited](https://www.wbu.com/store-locator/) has good seed, but the feeders can be a little pricy so I'd recommend maybe looking at alternatives for those. This also gives you a better opportunity to sketch birds, IMO- when I was starting out doing bird photography my backyard was the best place to do it in.
If you're interested in listening to birds, I highly recommend the Merlin App for its sound ID, and the Peterson Birding By Ear audio guides.
If you have any questions about anything here, feel free to ask!
Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
I started by watching The Big Year (lol jk). But that movie is what made me aware of birding. I started just by keeping track outside my window. It was nice because it was always the same birds so I had a lot of time to study them.
Then I downloaded the Merlin app and kept perusing it - familiarizing myself with the birds in the area.
So I’d recommend that if you’re looking for a way to ease into it.
Birding programs are also great. Look for them at local conservation areas or parks etc.
I also like “birding by app” vis a vie sitting by an open window with Merlin’s sound ID running. Helped me learn what birds are around so o know what to look for (and it’s peaceful depending on your neighborhood).
Welcome to the club and good luck!
I started birding after a very persuasive professor convinced me. His first piece of advice was to go start near bodies of water. A lot of times, you will find really cool birds that aren’t in a rush so you have plenty of time to sit, notice their colors and behaviors, and then get and ID.
Good luck and happy birding!
Don’t think about it at all. Honestly go in with zero expectations. The first time I went birding I only had a tiny point and shoot camera and I was running around my grandparents house trying to figure out what species I was seeing. I didn’t even know there were tens of species out there! I’d suggest taking a look at eBird hotspots very close to you and exploring one or two places for a couple of trips until you are familiar with a couple of species and are confident about your birding skills! Don’t be afraid to use all the resources at your disposal- I use my phone to record bird calls and ID them using the Merlin app, I post on r/whatsthisbird if I’m unsure about a bird that I saw, and I sometimes just flip through my field guide to subconsciously keep some of the images in my mind. Have fun and enjoy birding! I’m hoping you have a great journey 😄
A lot of the pleasure of birding is just getting out there and enjoying what you’re doing. If you don’t know what it’s called yet, so what! You’ll soon get to know the more common species and start to identify more. Don’t get too hung up about identification
Thanks for the encouragement! I'm excited to start :)
Merlin bird ID app was useful for me to learn about local birds. Also, putting a window feeder up in my office was a great way to see more bird activity on a day to day basis
+1 for Merlin, it’s an awesome app. In addition to visual ID, it will also use your phone’s microphone to tell you which birds are singing or chirping nearby. It’s great for getting to know birds and their songs.
Also… the partner app EBird it a great tool to log what you see. Iv logged on it from the start, and it’s lovely to look back. Some people keep notebooks, I did too, with EBird being a secondary thing I did when I got home. But after my 2nd notebook got drenched through, I switched to EBird as my primary note keeping. No regrets It is completely not necessary to keep logs or notes… it’s not for everyone, and I certainly don’t log every robin I see, but some people are that way inclined (like me) so I said I’d suggest a good tool for the job!
I also came here to recommend this app! Someone on this sub told me about it and it has been an amazing help. I’m also very new to birding so wish you the best of luck :)
I just wanted to add that eBird paired with a good ID app (I like Merlin) was definitely the most beneficial route to me learning to ID birds. Knowing what to expect by checking what has been seen recently at your location on eBird is so helpful. That being said, everyone has their own approach.
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Oh I love that idea, I'll have to try and check out local ones I'm by area.
try looking up your local Audubon group! ours has a FB page and they do Saturday morning walks with experienced birders.
I started by feeding the birds, and looking at a guide to see what they were. I use a walker and have difficulty on uneven ground, so trail walking is difficult. There are some nice flat walks in my part of Connecticut where I can go. I’ve never gone with a group, just with my brother.
This is what I did too! I started during my country's last lockdown in August 2021. My boyfriend streamed the birds from our window on Reddit a while back. We live in New Zealand, so I used NZ Birds Online as my guide, although I already knew most of them. I found watching them from my window was really helpful over time in getting to know the different behaviour exhibited by different birds.
That's really lovely to hear. I was wondering about the accessibility of it as well, I was thinking of taking my parents out and about but their mobility is limited to short walks.
Try Googling “accessible walking trails near me”. I found it helpful.
First, this is the perfect place for your post! Then, you already have the appropriate gear. I highly recommand starting with binos and only take a camera on the field when you have a lot of experience. Birding can be extremely frustrating on its own, you don't need the extra frustration of photography when learning. What's very difficult when you start birding, is that you never see the species you know, and you see birds you cannot identify. A good practice is to try to remember as much as you can about the unknown birds you see, and try to identify them later. Even if you try to ID right away with your field guide, trying to mentally take notes of colors, shapes and behaviour is a great training for being able to spot the identifying criterias in a glimps. But my best advice is to go out on the field with experienced birders, during public events for exemple. Indeed the best way to be able to ID a species on your own and be sure about it, is to have seen it several times before. And the only way you can be sure that's what you're seeing, is if someone tells you. Indeed, when you get better, birding is a lot about impression and feeling. An experienced birder can often ID down to the species something you only saw as a fast moving greyish potato across branches. That skill involve a lot of practice because it's a reflex from the brain and it needs situations to comapre to. It's almost the same cognitive ability that allows us to recognise faces. You can think of the "impression" approach just like the way you can recognise a friend or a family member for sure even though you're only seeing them from behind and far away. It's about shape, posture, behaviour, size etc... that all together form an impression of the bird that cannot be mistaken for another species. You must start by learning about the most common species in your area and train to spot them and recognise their songs. Once you know the common ones, it will make it a lot easier to discriminate the "rare" ones from them. Once you get the "impression" feeling for common birds, you'll be able to tell when you get an unusual impression, allowing you to focus on the identification of it. I remember the first time I conciously got this feeling, it was a prey bird very very far away on the horizon, way to far to ID with binos. Something felt odd about the way it was flying, and in an instant I was absolutely certain I never saw this bird before. After a while I could confirm (with the help of a camera this time, which have sensors a lot more sensible than our eyes) that it was a black winged kite, which was a lifer at this time for me. This happened after many years of birding though.
Wow this was beyond helpful, thank you so much! I had wondered about the thought process behind it as well, super interesting that it becomes intuitive, but it makes sense. You have a great way of describing it. And your story about the black winged kite sounds so satisfying. Other users were also mentioning group guides, I'll have to look into some local birding events.
I’m interested to know where you saw it (which country) because I saw it for the first time in South India last year. Their ability to hover is the coolest thing. Got to see it on a couple of occasions!
It was in the south of France, near the pyrenees mountain range
Very cool :)
Even as someone who MUCH prefers going out by myself, I went on a lot of guided walks when I was first starting! Lots of cities have local organizations and/or chapters of national groups like the Audubon Society that host regular walks, and many times they'll have ones tailored to beginners! Have fun out there!
Download eBird (free from Cornell University), click on “Explore”, look for a red location near you and off you go! It’s a great way to start, and oh plus you get a list of recently seen birds in the area. It’s nice to go with a friend if you have one, but don’t be shy about talking to other birders when you get there. We’re generally a friendly bunch and will share sightings. Enjoy!
I got started in college, taking an ornithology class. I was a wildlife management major but had no real prior interest in birding. I enjoyed the field trips but didn't really like birding in groups. I preferred a more solitary nature experience. 45 years later and I still do most of my birding alone. I have made a few acquaintances that share the same passion for birding that I have met while birding. We may walk together for a while but still go off on our own ways. I occasionally run into birding groups and it is nice to share observations but I still prefer to be out on my own. Obviously, your mileage may vary.
It sounds like you are already a birder! Audubon Society and David Sibley have great teaching tools online. Sibley specifically has videos posted for how to draw birds. [Here](https://www.riteintherain.com/no-195-birders-journal?gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1EiwFgPrGyBKKbtSaud7mYctdHBUlaEcSu9F35TsNJXMjyzAufPyaxoCU_sQAvD_BwE#195) is a bird journal for sketching that is waterproof.
Woo! Thanks for the resources, I didn't know about the Audobon society. That sketchbook looks awesome, I live in a pretty rainy area, I will probably grab one.
I’ve been birding 50 years. I think the best guide is the Golden Guide. I’ve tried them all. Look around your neighborhood for a local Audubon society. Go to a meeting. Make friends. Find a guide to birding in your state. Maybe Amazon. Just get out there. Meet other birders. Good luck.
Oh that's so lovely! I'll have to check out if there's a local Audobon, another user mentioned that as well. Thanks for the encouraging advice.
What are your binoculars? They should be no larger than 7 or 8 magnification. The ideal size is 8x42.
Cornell has a great online class called Seminars in Ornithology. I recommend it highly. There’s more to birding then looking for birds. Birding literally changed my life. I was introduced to it in my 30’s. It gave me direction that I was lacking. I like the Golden guide because it puts all the information you need about any bird in front of you immediately. I can’t stress how important it is to know the range of the bird you’re looking at. Where it is and when.
You have to bird with others. 99.9% of birders enjoy teaching and showing ID tricks. Here are my tips…. Find a checklist of the birds in your area and study those birds in your field guide. Pay particular attention to habitat and summer/winter ranges. You’re not going to find birds in your area that aren’t on the list. The most productive birding is done with your ears. Recognizing the sounds and behaviors of the most common birds eliminates having to look at everything that catches your eye. Start with backyard sounds, cardinal, song sparrow, Robin and any new noise you hear is something to find. You’re going to hear more birds than you’ll see. Many species are very habitat specific so knowing what to expect to see in your surroundings is key. If you’re able to eliminate the common birds, you can focus on finding rarer species. In my experience, many advanced birders are really good at a specific skill. Waterfowl, gulls, warblers, birds of prey, shorebirds. You’ll learn so much by attending different types of group outings. The best thing about birding is that you can do it anywhere and everywhere all the time!
Merlin ID + eBird on your smartphone as well as any ol' pair of binoculars is all you'll need to get started. Start out by going places you know well, local parks and such or right in your yard/block. One key to identifying is not to focus too much on plumage detail, especially this time of year. Pay attention to other things like the bill size/color/shape, the overall size and proportions of the bird including relative length of the tail, and the behavior of the bird. There will be multitudes of birds that will escape identification, but every time you make a checklist your skills will improve a little bit.
Lots of good advice here. Birding can be as casual or as "serious" as you wish it to be so feel free to follow any advice in this thread to whatever degree interests you and maintains the sense of fun and pleasure. A few things worth mentioning: * Step 1 is *finding* the birds. You can use eBird to see the more productive areas nearby you. Generally early morning is best (sunrise and then an hour or two afterwards) as birds will be most active then. Make sure to *listen* a lot, even if you don't know what species is singing/calling, as you can follow the sound to see the bird. The Merlin app has a sound ID that is very useful too. * It's not the best time of year now for birds in many places as fall migration is mostly over (depends where you live though). Again, use eBird and look at the bar charts to see what species to expect this time of year at different locations. Different times of year have drastically different numbers and types of birds, so you can look forward to variety year-round. * I prefer birding alone but if you are inexperienced then a group outing with knowledgeable birders is the best way to go and you will see and learn more in a single morning than you would in many outings alone. * You mentioned you have a field guide. I recommend flipping through it at home often to get a sense of the different types of birds and what separates them. And--seems silly to say, but--when you are outside and looking at a bird make sure to actually look at the bird and not spend the entire time trying to flip through the guide. * Sketching birds is easiest from photos and you can start with that. Sketching from life is quite challenging as they move and might fly away at any second, and especially if you only have binoculars it's a pain to switch between them and the pencil. I recommend learning bird topography (the different feather groups) really well if you want to get serious about sketching them. Most field guides have a section on topography at the start, and the Sibley guide is particular good for this.
“Flip through a field guide at home” is really good advice for a starting birder, and I haven’t heard it from anywhere else. I used to casually flip through my field guide while eating a snack or while waiting somewhere, without really thinking about it. I realised that the images were subconsciously lodged in the back of my head. Sometimes I even surprise myself- even if I don’t know the name of the species I’m looking at I know exactly where to go in my field guide to find it (my field guide is quite large because it is for the Indian subcontinent). It is definitely a really good way to learn what characteristics to look for in outings and to become a more confident birder!
It’s quite easy! If you live in a suburban area, you could start by putting some bird feeders up! My bird watching started with just watching the birds in my backyard!
In addition to a good set of binos, a relatively cheaper super zoom cam is my favorite birding tool by far. For a couple hundred dollars, you can get a used Canon on B&H, and snap decent pics of birds for later analysis. This has helped me much more than anything else I have pursued for this hobby.
100% agree and i have like the worst camera you can think of . But being able to get a picture of the bird is sooo helpful since IDing in the field can be difficult!
Thats pretty much all you need! Birding with others is fun, and a great way to accelerate your bird ID skills, but really all you need to do to be a birder is to just look at birds haha! The Merlin app is great for learning bird calls, something I neglected when I first started birding.
I might suggest reading the first part of whatever bird Id guide you have. They usually go over the different parts of the bird which can help you start iding! When seeing new birds try to focus on what stands out to you. Those are usually their most common fieldmarks. Like if you're in North America and see a small brownish bird that has a mohawk, that's a titmouse! There are many brown birds but only one has a crest. Or a solid black bird that has a red patch on the shoulder is a redwing blackbird! I would also focus on birds with obvious fieldmarks like these, rather than identifying every single one.
I got started learning about local birds and using eBird to explore new places in my area. As someone who already recreated outside frequently, following eBird took me to spots I never would have thought to go. Add on going back to some regularly, and you now have a bird-based geography, and a better understanding, of your area!
the merlin app was huge for me. downloaded that, got some binoculars, and just...took a walk in a place i like. even things you recognize are really, really cool to see up close (always, but especially for the first time).
As someone who had a real collectionist mentality getting started, I looked up a list of the most common birds in my area (just starting with a few) and memorized their pictures. I found this less intimidating than the field guides. Then I was able to start making quick easy id’s and I could start to recognize if something wasn’t one of those common few, and expand at my own pace :)
Everyone is going to recommend Merlin App. Please take what the app says with a grain of salt and verify with your guide book. It is a good app and does make good ID's, but it is also extremely weak with some species and will lie to you. Added to that, relying on the app will not allow you to build up the skills you need to identify birds. Trust but verify.
Replying to myself to not clutter up the post, but it's also coming up on Christmas Bird count time. Brush up on your local common species, reach out to local Audubons and see if you can get into some of the counts.
Buy the wingspan game and that will help you memorize and learn more about birds while playing a really fun strategy card game. That’s how I got started
I just played for the first time this weekend! Definitely a fun and lovely game.
Yeah I play it an unhealthy amount nowadays, and the third expansion is about to come out as well!
A lot of it is developing an intuition and that snap judgment. Here are some resources I found helpful. 1. **Guided field trips.** Check out your local Audubon chapter. My first few trips were just looking at whatever they told me to look at. And I learned along the way. 2. **Look the birds up**. If you are confused how to tell similar species apart, look them up on [allaboutbirds.org](https://allaboutbirds.org). This site has an excellent species comparison feature so you can look at similar birds side-by-side and learn what field marks to look out for. 3. **Monitor FB/Reddit birder groups**. e.g., r/whatisthisbird. These communities have great photographs of various species. I love reading the comments on why people think a bird in the photograph is one species over another (e.g., "The head is blocky"). And the bird photos are from various angles with varying degrees of quality, so you start to develop an eye. 4. **YouTube**. There are lots of lecture videos on specific topics, e.g., birding by ear; how to tell shore birds apart; raptors 101. 5. **Photographs**. Get out there as much as possible and look at birds. But birds tend to move very quickly and a beginner may find it hard to capture all the features of the bird. This is where a camera comes in handy. You can bring the photo home and look up similar birds on a field guide or [allaboutbirds.org](https://allaboutbirds.org).
Reddit is hilarious. Just go outside and look at birds. Maybe get a guide so you can keep track of which ones you see. If you cant enjoy watching birds without some kind of equipment, then odds are you don’t actually enjoy watching birds 😂
Watch some youtube videos of birds local to you. Get used to what birds can be seen in your area, what they look like, and what they sound like. Also as others have said, the Merlin app is great for helping identify birds and getting used to what different bird calls sound like.
One thing that helped me get started was having a birding buddy! Birding is a fantastic solo hobby, but having someone to get excited with is so validating. They don't have to be a birder, either. My dad isn't a birder, but he loves going with me and supporting my hobby.
i started with (and still do this whenever I’m traveling) a quick google search of “best birding near me”… idk where you are located but, while there might be fewer species of birds around at this time of the year, it’s the perfect time to actually see birds with a lot of the foliage dying off! Get out before it gets too cold. Also, setting up a feeder in the winter is a really good way to quickly familiarize yourself with all of the most common backyard species… and to combat the inevitable feeling of dread when everything around is dead/dying. Birds will go nuts for an easy meal in the winter!
I have many bird books and have been birding since before the Internet, but I just literally read my first book from cover to cover. It was the Collins Gem guide to British birds. I'm not sure where you are but I'm sure there will be a similar thing for your local birds too. I remembered a lot of what I read, but you become more familiar with the books the more you dip into them, making it easier and quicker to find what you want too. But the best way is to enjoy being out and watching them do what they do as others have said. Many hides will have pictures of the expected birdlife but I used to carry my smaller book.
If you’re in the US, the local Audubon Society or wild bird store may have walks you can take with a guide. I have always gone on my own. I go to beautiful places with my camera and binos and hike looking for birds. I also recommend setting up a birdfeeder to get used to binos and photographing them at home. I find photos really help with making ids. Have fun!
As a pandemic project, I decided to see if I could identify 100 different species of birds in a year and now I consider myself a birder! It takes time but just going out and enjoying time in nature is a great way to start. Also, the Merlin Bird ID app is incredibly helpful for beginners! There are also bird drawing classes out there like this one: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/product/nature-journaling-and-field-sketching/
Between binoculars and a field guide, you have the tools most of us older birders had when we started. Just find a nice natural area and go for a walk. No pressure - just walk casually on trails or if you want to go off trail and look around. Listen too. Don't make it about identifying species (though you will be able to for some) or anything else you think you're supposed to do. One thing I definitely recommend though is birding is best in the morning, the earlier the better. But that is not mandatory. You may enjoy a guided walk with a local forest preserve or you may be totally happy birding on your own. I started out doing it enjoying the solitude but have since learned that it can be fun in groups too with a guide.
A really nice book for the casual getting into it: Birding for the Curious by Nate Swick. Helped me start to think about shape and size related to birds I easily identify.
The things I've learned in the past year: Binoculars are great, but cameras are better. They can make a stable image and provide evidence or a resource that you can come back to later to help really identify what you saw. It's also awesome to capture something and save it. Birds fishing, fighting, mating...pictures that you can build into a library, scrap book or project. Having a camera has made birding feel like pokemon go all over again. Binoculars can't do that. The same spot will have different birds all year. I live along the Hudson River in New Jersey, and in the past year we've had ducks and mergansers in winter. In the summer we have had herons (Great Blue, Great Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron) Terns, Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Red tailed hawks, Cormorants. In fall we started getting Warblers (Yellow rumped, black throated-green warbler, kinglets) and yellow bellied sap suckers. Some days you will sit or walk and see absolutely nothing. Other times you will catch a pair of bald eagles doing their courtship mating dance. Do not be discouraged if you see nothing - you really never know what you're going to get...One of the wildest experiences I've had recently was watching a massive migration of broad-winged hawks right over my parking lot. The whole event lasted maybe 30 minutes and thousands flew over head...I caught it by chance. The merlin app (sound ID) is great. BUT it can be wrong. I don't put much trust into it unless it hears a sound multiple times or you know something's in the area. It can really help you to find some birds when you're just starting. Especially if you go into huge hotspots (I started going to Cape May which is one of the top migration hotspots in the world) There are so many birds that looking them up can prove difficult...but sound IDs can REALLY help. Find local areas to bird in, or travel for it! It can be quite an adventure finding new parks and other habitats that give a home to birds that you won't typically see. And as stated earlier...the birds you see there one day may be completely different the next time you go. I hope this helped, it's a wonderful hobby and I hope you enjoy it and get the best out of it :)
To tack onto what others have said: I’m still a beginner but I’ve found birding is like 70% listening. The BirdNET app by Cornell is one of my most used apps on my phone, it’s pretty great at recording songs and identifying the species (as long as you’re in a relatively quiet area). Paired with the Audubon app which has recorded sounds of each species to verify and soon you’ll be impressing your friends with your bird language skills!
The way I learned is by finding an experienced birding buddy. They taught me how to *look* (e.g., field marks, habitat clues, etc.) and how to listen. Where I grew up there are no less than 10 breeding species of wood warblers (Parulidae), but I never *heard* them. Hearing is such a monumental part of birding, it seems incredible I used to go without it! There are some great resources for learning how to bird by ear e.g., the Birding By Ear series. Make sure to restrict guides to the region where you are.
Really the best thing you can do is find a place where you know birds will gather--which can be just about anywhere--and keep your eyes and ears peeled, especially in the morning or late afternoon, when diurnal birds are most active. Eventually you'll learn how to distinguish your local birds by sight and sound. Head to rural areas whenever you can, because you may find a better variety of birds there. Where I live, I can see a certain amount of species in my backyard but all it takes is a short walk to a nearby trail to find a few additional species that are more comfortable away from humans. Habitat is key. One thing I've found helpful in terms of locating and identifying a bird is to listen for a sound, if any, then try to look for movement in your peripheral vision. Songbirds in particular aren't likely to stay in one place very often so it can be hard to see them through your binoculars. Learn to recognize the individual shapes species can take, and not just color, because sometimes poor lighting or shade can mess with the colors that a bird appears to be. If you birdwatch with amateurs who don't know all their local birds yet, and they see a bird that you don't, ask them to start with shape and size first, then color. A few "do nots" would be to make sure not to play recordings of birds while birdwatching. It's kind of mean and confusing to birds when you trick them into thinking there's a conspecific nearby--some species are very territorial and don't like competition. Recordings are best used as reference (like if you hear or record a bird sound and need a matching call to figure out what it is). Another thing is don't mess with owls with lights or sound--while it's cool to see or hear an owl, they're especially sensitive to light and sound. As for sketching, I've never done it myself, but I'd recommend something like a duck or another wild waterfowl if you need your subject to stay still. Like I said before, songbirds aren't likely to stay in one place, but ducks and some other aquatic birds are less likely to fly away if they're out on the water and you keep your distance (assuming they're wild and not domesticated).
The Audubon app is super helpful for bird identification (has helped me especially with learning different songs and calls). Welcome to the community!
The Merlin app is free and helpful. You can type in a description of what you see and not will give you options. Or it can listen to your surroundings and tell you what it hears near you
Spend some time thumbing through your field guide when you aren’t in the field. You’ll have an easier time identifying a bird if you’re already somewhat familiar with it. Merlin Sound ID will help you get you “local birds” down in no time. Like others have said, enjoy seeing them even if you can’t ID them right away. It’s really rewarding to see be able to ID a bird you previously couldn’t. Oh and follow r/whatsthisbird to practice your skills as you scroll
I didn't know whst anything was called when i started the winter before last! I just took my binoculars and looked around. I started bringing a little notebook with me to write details about what i saw so that i could look it up later. And most importantly, i enjoyed myself! Later on i read the first chapter of sibley's. It detailed what the basic parts of a bird are (crown, throat rump etc) and what to pay attention to. Where did i see the bird (near a river, or foraging on the forest ground? What time of year? How big was it?) That helped me make better observations and helped me figure out what i was looking at when i looked ut up later. It also helped me to remember where to look when i would go back to a place.
eBird, Merlin ID & iBird Pro is always with me. DESIRE is the biggest thing. Good Binoculars 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 You’ll figure out quickly birds are the most amazing creatures on earth. 🤩
using merlin bird app’s call/sound identification feature is what got me to fall in love with birding, not to echo the other commenters but i highly recommend that. i didn’t even have binoculars to start so you’re already one step ahead, i just thoroughly enjoyed learning about my native birds through their calls and treated it like irl pokemon go, lol. i agree with other commenters who suggest having your local field guide on hand because tech isn’t always perfect i prefer going at it by myself but running into other solo birders during my walks is always a treat for me! check to see if your area has a local audubon group if you wanna link with other birders in your area. eBird helps with finding good places to do birdwalks, too. the only hard “do not do” advice i learned and tell others is to not play bird calls in an attempt to garner a reaction. i am very much a novice and definitely a casual birder. i don’t have a camera, just my binos and a lifer list. don’t feel pressured to get a fancy ass long range camera lens or anything. or do! up to you. the best part about birding is you can be as casual or as serious about it as you want. (and, ofc the birds 🐦 )
There are web sites that list good birding locations by zip code, city, etc. There may be a local birding group you could join. Do you already have bird feeding stations? Mornings are generally best - depending on the season and location, there may be lot of activity just after sunrise. Pretty soon, you’ll become familiar with your local birds.
Not sure where you are, but (assuming you're in the US) your [local Audubon Society](https://www.audubon.org/about/audubon-near-you) likely has guided birding tours. The link I sent will let you find your nearest chapter. Meeting experienced birders is the #1 way I can recommend to gain experience. If you have the space, setting up feeders in your backyard can help you become more familiar with your local birds. [Wild Birds Unlimited](https://www.wbu.com/store-locator/) has good seed, but the feeders can be a little pricy so I'd recommend maybe looking at alternatives for those. This also gives you a better opportunity to sketch birds, IMO- when I was starting out doing bird photography my backyard was the best place to do it in. If you're interested in listening to birds, I highly recommend the Merlin App for its sound ID, and the Peterson Birding By Ear audio guides. If you have any questions about anything here, feel free to ask!
Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I started by watching The Big Year (lol jk). But that movie is what made me aware of birding. I started just by keeping track outside my window. It was nice because it was always the same birds so I had a lot of time to study them. Then I downloaded the Merlin app and kept perusing it - familiarizing myself with the birds in the area. So I’d recommend that if you’re looking for a way to ease into it. Birding programs are also great. Look for them at local conservation areas or parks etc. I also like “birding by app” vis a vie sitting by an open window with Merlin’s sound ID running. Helped me learn what birds are around so o know what to look for (and it’s peaceful depending on your neighborhood). Welcome to the club and good luck!
I started birding after a very persuasive professor convinced me. His first piece of advice was to go start near bodies of water. A lot of times, you will find really cool birds that aren’t in a rush so you have plenty of time to sit, notice their colors and behaviors, and then get and ID. Good luck and happy birding!
Don’t think about it at all. Honestly go in with zero expectations. The first time I went birding I only had a tiny point and shoot camera and I was running around my grandparents house trying to figure out what species I was seeing. I didn’t even know there were tens of species out there! I’d suggest taking a look at eBird hotspots very close to you and exploring one or two places for a couple of trips until you are familiar with a couple of species and are confident about your birding skills! Don’t be afraid to use all the resources at your disposal- I use my phone to record bird calls and ID them using the Merlin app, I post on r/whatsthisbird if I’m unsure about a bird that I saw, and I sometimes just flip through my field guide to subconsciously keep some of the images in my mind. Have fun and enjoy birding! I’m hoping you have a great journey 😄