Mike Fialkovich has been birding since he was a kid. Now, decades later, the president of Three Rivers Birding Club likes to help others take up the sport. “Starting to look at birds is as easy as looking out your window,” Fialkovich explained. “There are common birds in any backyard that are interesting to watch. Also, a trip to a local park is another good place to start, particularly if there are feeders that bring the birds close to observe.”
For those who may scoff at the idea of birding as a “sport,” there are competitive birding activities, and depending on where birders search for new birds, they may find themselves hiking, kayaking or canoeing, climbing, and, yes, just sitting quietly still.
Birding can be simple or competitive. There are numerous apps available to assist with identification, including the very popular Merlin App, which is free to download, and numerous birding guides to consult. “The internet is a resource for anything these days, and birds are no exception. There are also plenty of beginner bird guides available showing very common birds to get started on identification. The Sibley Birds of North America is a great guide, and you can find specialty guides for regions as well as specific birds, such as gulls,” Fialkovich said.
The Three Rivers Birding Club, with 400 members, also offers outings all year. “It can be intimidating for a beginner, but just letting the outing leader know you are a beginner will help. Other experienced people on the outing will be glad to lend a hand,” he said. “The club has also started having a few field trips for beginners.”
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania also offers beginner birding walks and many other resources for birders. “We hold free, weekly ‘Birds & More’ walks at our reserves to help people connect with nature while learning about the birds that call our region home,” said Communications Director Rachel Handel.
Like Fialkovich, Handel recommended simply looking outside to get started. “Put up a bird feeder, and you’ll quickly see that a number of species visit—American Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Downy Woodpeckers and Blue Jays. These birds are relatively easy to identify, and once you get to know them, you’ll want to move on to identifying other species that come to the feeder,” she said.
People get involved in bird-watching for a variety of reasons. “Bird-watching is an activity that’s proven to reduce stress. And getting out into nature provides a healthy dose of Vitamin D from sunshine. People are intrigued by birds and their behaviors. And the more that they bird-watch, the more they see what sets each species apart—from its calls to its coloring, rituals to attract a mate, or even which seed it prefers. Birds are nearly everywhere that you go, in every corner of the world,” Handel said.
The Audubon feels that connecting children to nature is important, and birding is a great way to do just that. “Kids quickly learn to identify common birds like a Blue Jay or Cardinal because of their vibrant colors. To tie together watching birds and having fun, give kids coloring pages or activities that are bird-themed,” she said. “Have them build a tiny nest out of twigs and show them actual nests in trees. Let kids know that a healthy environment is critically important for birds and people to thrive. Kids can also participate in bird walks, and there are even kid-friendly citizen science projects, like the Kids’ Christmas Bird Count programs.”
Leah Fulton, assistant naturalist at the Latodami Nature Center, also offered suggestions for new birders. “My best recommendation for those that don’t know where to start is ‘right here and right now.’ Many birds migrate for the winter, leaving behind some of our most common year-round species to practice identifying before the others return and the leaves come back out to hide them. When learning how to identify birds, I like to teach the six S’s: size, shape, sound, season, site (location), and sight (overall and specific appearance). Even if you don’t have a book or camera handy, jot those key details down, and they’ll help you narrow down your options quickly,” she said.
A real plus of birding is that it’s a low-cost hobby, according to Fulton. “The barrier to entry in the modern age is next to none. Access to a window or a spot to sit outside is all you need to see or hear birds. There are great free options for smartphone apps, and your local library can provide you books and access to online resources for free,” she said.
Fulton started birding as a child and recommends that casual exposure to birds and birding can make a lifelong impact. “My family kept a field guide to birds that we still keep a household checklist of birds in. Flipping back and forth between pages of birds as you try to identify them is an excellent way to learn how to identify not just one species, but multiple species in relation to each other. You don’t have to go to classes or take big birding trips to get kids into birds—just sitting at home with a book and watching the feeders is enough to encourage interest,” she said.
Fulton recommends pairing the Merlin Bird App with eBird, another free app and website by Cornell, to make lists of birds observed and to check out local birding hotspots. “A combination of online resources and books is my favorite, as one resource alone rarely has every single plumage and angle of the tricky birds,” Fulton said.
Fulton offers regular bird hikes open to all in North Park. “I also hold various other bird-focused programs throughout the year, including the upcoming Spring Bird Survey in May, where participants are placed in groups led by experienced birders,” she said.
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