Is This Your Year To Start Birding?

In 2019 my story “How to start birding in any U.S. city” was published by Popular Science. If your new year’s resolution includes learning how to bird, this story is for you, especially if you live in a city. You can observe birds in any season, in WINTER too. My 6 tips are below. Read the article for all the details.

Know before you bird. Use the eBird Explore feature to find out the species in your area right now.

Gear up with a regional field guide and a pair of inexpensive binoculars. The Merlin Bird ID app’s sound recognition feature is excellent.

Bird alone. Go at your own pace and focus exclusively on the birds.

Bird from home. Window birding is cozy and fun—leave a pair of binoculars on the sill.

Bird with others. Look for organizations with equity and justice in their founding mission.

Level up with quests and destination birding. You don’t have to leave your city to find a birding hub. Check out the eBird Hotspot finder.

Let me know in the comments below if you read the story over at Popular Science.