Bird Watching Pathfinder
Part 1: Basics
A few years ago, a friend introduced to me to birding. This recreational activity has become a way of life for me. As a feeder watcher, I enjoy watching the hummingbirds feed during the summer, and on cold, winter mornings, I enjoy watching the red cardinals as I drink coffee near the windowsill. This bird watching pathfinder is targeted to anyone who may be interested in learning more about birding. The objective of this pathfinder is to provide birders the necessary resources and tools to effectively recognize songbirds in their habitat.
This pathfinder includes three comprehensive field guides, three journal articles about birding trails and advice on how to bird watch during the winter season, three websites, and two instructional videos on how to effectively identify birds and correctly focus binoculars.
A few years ago, a friend introduced to me to birding. This recreational activity has become a way of life for me. As a feeder watcher, I enjoy watching the hummingbirds feed during the summer, and on cold, winter mornings, I enjoy watching the red cardinals as I drink coffee near the windowsill. This bird watching pathfinder is targeted to anyone who may be interested in learning more about birding. The objective of this pathfinder is to provide birders the necessary resources and tools to effectively recognize songbirds in their habitat.
This pathfinder includes three comprehensive field guides, three journal articles about birding trails and advice on how to bird watch during the winter season, three websites, and two instructional videos on how to effectively identify birds and correctly focus binoculars.
Part 2: Written Resources
Sibley, D.A. (2003). The Sibley field guide to birds of Eastern
North America. New York: Knopf.
The
Sibley Guide to Birds of Eastern North America is considered the most
comprehensive and authoritative guide that features 650 native bird species of
North America in great detail in addition to regional populations found east of
the Rocky Mountains. This compact guide contains over 4,000 illustrations
describing the most important field marks. Sibley is best known for his
illustrations of alternate or juvenile plumages of birds. There is a
colored-coded map which describes the complete distribution of each species.
Each entry contains information about frequency, nesting, behavior, food and
feeding, voice description, and key identification features. Accounts also
include information provided by 110 regional experts across the continent. This
excellent guide is an invaluable resource for all birders seeking an
authoritative guide to the birds of the East.
Sibley, D. A. (2003). The Sibley field guide to birds of Western
North America. New York: Knopf.
The
Sibley Guide to Birds of Western North America is considered the most
comprehensive and authoritative guide that features 703 native bird species of
North America in great detail in addition to regional populations found west of
the Rocky Mountains. This compact guide contains over 4,000 illustrations
describing the most important field marks. Sibley is best known for his
illustrations of alternate or juvenile plumages of birds. There is a
colored-coded map which describes the complete distribution of each species. Each
entry contains information about frequency, nesting, behavior, food and
feeding, voice description, and key identification features. Accounts also
include information provided by 110 regional experts across the continent. This
excellent guide is an invaluable resource for all birders seeking an
authoritative guide to the birds of the West.
Turcotte, W.H., & Watts, D. L.
(1999). Birds of Mississippi.
Jackson: University Press.
Birds of Mississippi is
a comprehensive reference guide compiled by two long-time employees of the
Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. This guide contains 395 species,
which include illustrations, charts, and maps. The book outlines the history of
the state's ornithology, explains where to find birds and how to identify them,
and details their distribution and diversity. Each species include a map containing which area the species were confirmed as sighted or as a breeding site. The book also gives detailed information about what kind of plants certain species prefer. This guide is not restricted by a
fixed format; Turcotte contributes personal, historic accounts of endangered,
threatened, and game species. Avid feeder-watchers and amateur experts will
enjoy the plethora of information it provides.
Kaufman, K. (2013). Great bird
trails. Audubon, 115(5), 20-21.
During the autumn migration season,
it is an excellent time to grab your field guide and view one of the greatest
wildlife spectacles on earth. The article offers travel tips for birders
exploring in various birding trails including the Great Washington State
Birding Trail, California Redwoods Birding Trail, and Southwest New Mexico
Birding Trail. Autumn migration season is here. For instance, the article describes America's Wetland Birding Trail of Louisiana. It consists of 115 bird watching sites crossing through 22 Louisiana parishes rich with unparalleled history, culture, arts and entertainment. Its vast interior marshes teem with herons, egrets, ibises, and gallinules. Serious birders will find odd, stray birds from western parts of North America near the trail's isolated coastal woodland patches.
Kaufman, K. (2013). 8 great summer
birding trails. Audubon, 115(4),
24-25.
The article describes several summer
birding trails across the U.S. Here are some of the nation’s great trails to
explore on your summer vacation. They include the Maine Birding Trail, the
North Carolina Birding Trail, and the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail in
northwestern Minnesota. It also features the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail, the
Central Coast Birding Trail in California, and the birding trails in Colorado,
Idaho. The Klamath Basin Birding Trail along the California-Oregon border is
also described. At the Far West Wildlife Trail, you may want to visit the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There are birds reminiscent of the Rockies, such as broad-tailed hummingbirds and western bluebirds. Follow the trail to Big Bend's upper elevations to find the rare Colima warbler.
Mayntz, M. (2013). Make winter your
top birding season. National Wildlife (World Edition), 52(1), 1.
Winter is the most overlooked season of all because many homeowners do not believe that birds hang out during this cold season. Backyard birding can be the most amazing winter experience for any amateur or avid bird watcher. The article discusses backyard
birding during the winter season, with advice on how homeowners can attract
winter birds to their yard during cold weather months. Mayntz provides helpful advice on having food sources rich in fats and calories that may birds feed during the winter, because a well fed bird is a warm bird. Topics also include
recommendations on birds' need for fresh water
during the winter, and tips on creating a garden that will attract birds
throughout the winter.
Part 3: Online Resources
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
(n.d.). All about birds. Retrieved from, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search.
All About Birds is an online
resource guide provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology is a highly reliable source in the study, appreciation, and
conservation of birds. They believe in the advancement of the understanding of
nature and engaging people of all ages in learning about birds and protecting
the planet. This excellent website includes a bird guide, birding basics, bird
cams, and issues of Living Bird magazine,
which are available free online. Under the bird guide, the guide includes detailed information about each species, keys to identification, life history, sound clips, and a video of the specie in its habitat. The guide also includes excellent pictures depicting each bird according to its gender and comparing each specie to similar species, so that you may not be confused when sighting certain birds.
National Audubon Society. (2014).
The online guide to North America birds. Retrieved from, http://birds.audubon.org/birdid.
The National Audubon Society has
provided an online guide to over 800 species of North America birds. It covers
all North America’s breeding species and non-breeding species that visit north
of Mexico. Audubon’s main focus is on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats
for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Audubon also
offers tips on ‘how to bird.' which provide information on how to get started, which binocular is best to use, logistics, and most of all to be patient. The online guide also includes resources about how to identify birds, plumage and molting, classification of birds, natural history of birds, and bird conservation. You may also browse using the quick guide, by family, or by common name.
Brzuszek, R. F. (2014). Attracting
birds to Mississippi gardens. Retrieved from, http://msucares.com/lawn/landscape/design_mgt/plants_wildlife/birds.html.
According to Brzuszek, birding is one the most popular leisure activities in the United States. Certain shrubs can be located within view from windows of the home, and allow for comfortable indoor observation. Birds can be attracted to a backyard by simply putting out feeders and baths, but many more species of can be seen with the addition of their favorite plants. The article offers gardeners tips
on how to attract a wide array of songbirds to Mississippi gardens. A
successful garden with a variety of plants provides birds food, water, shelter,
and breeding space to survive. The article also arranged a list of plant
species that provide food for birds and are suitable for growing in
Mississippi.
Coblentz, B. (2012). Using good judgment
when feeding wildlife. Retrieved from, http://msucares.com/news/print/fwnews/fw12/121108_feeders.html.
Birds are the most commonly fed wildlife
during the winter season, and the experts at Mississippi State University’s
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture recommends a variety of
feeders, food, and houses for the many species of songbirds who habitat this
great state. The most interesting fact about this article is that the author recommends to never place seed on the ground. Placing seed on the ground may cause to mold and become harmful to the birds, and also Mississippi law restricts anyone from placing feed to prevent people from baiting wild animals to a site for the intent of hunting them. The article also recommends ways to deter squirrels from visiting
the feed source. Coblentz also recommends using good judgment when feeding certain wildlife all the time, it leads the animals to depend too much on human.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Inside birding series.
Retrieved from,
This instructional video created by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology will help the amateur birder learn the most fundamental skill for identifying birds. Birding experts Chris Wood and Jessie Barry will show you how to compare different birds and employ your observations by recognizing birds with 4 basic identification skills: size and shape, behavior, color pattern, and habitat. In the Size and Shape video, birders are able to understand the importance of identifying birds by size and shape, because plumage of different species varies due to season and molting. The Behavior video describes the most important characteristics of behavior: posture, foraging, and flight style. Through out the Color pattern video, it is critical to know that plumages may distract the birder from the overall color pattern. The Habitat video will describe the importance of knowing the habitat in comparison to migration patterns.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (2014). How to get crystal clear focus with your binoculars. Retrieved from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkPzl-VPmo4&list=UU5Lz88Rt3GT75YT2ORAmaMQ.
When purchasing a pair of binoculars for bird watching, you will need to understand how to tune up the binoculars and effectively use them. Inside Birding host Jessie Barry describes how to set up binoculars for a better birding experience. This instructional video includes adjusting the eyecups and diopter as well as how to spot and scan for birds. Barry also gives helpful tips on how to adjust the binoculars as you scan the surrounding area for birds. By adjusting the diopter to the right eye, it is done to compensate for differences between your eyes so you see the clearest image possible through your binoculars. This video is very informative for any birder who had just purchased a pair of binoculars.
Part 4: Summary
I chose this topic because I had an interest in bird watching. Bird watching has become a fascinating, yet inspiring way to explore the world around us. Most of the sources I used in this pathfinder, I personally use a guide to identify birds while I watch. As I did more research for this pathfinder, I found more interesting resources that anyone may find helpful in birding. I highly recommend these reference resources as a starting point for anyone interested in birding.
I chose this topic because I had an interest in bird watching. Bird watching has become a fascinating, yet inspiring way to explore the world around us. Most of the sources I used in this pathfinder, I personally use a guide to identify birds while I watch. As I did more research for this pathfinder, I found more interesting resources that anyone may find helpful in birding. I highly recommend these reference resources as a starting point for anyone interested in birding.
