Kid, You’ll Be a Birder Soon
Look and listen. Those are the only skills you need to become a genuine birder. Chances are, once you start, you’ll find it nearly impossible to stop.
By Amy McCullough with Tykee James
To bird expert and advocate Tykee James, birds are all about joy.
He felt his first jolt of winged wonder at age 18, when he witnessed a female belted kingfisher leap off a cattail and sing as it flew across a creek. He was mesmerized. “That bird made nature come to life,” says James. This is what birders call a “spark bird,” the species that ignites your interest. And finding yours is just one of several ways to ease into the activity known as birding. Here are a few more pointers to get you started:
1. Start where you are.
Whether you’re at home, in a park, or even in a parking lot, there are birds to be seen. You don’t have to go far. You only need to be curious, spend a little time, look around, and be prepared to appreciate what you see. Keeping it simple helps demystify the practice. And while you don’t need special gear, binoculars are a helpful tool.
2. Find your spark bird.
While you’re enjoying whatever activities take you outdoors, look for birds. Sooner or later, you’re bound to see one that trips your trigger. Take its picture and identify it with the help of a field guide, another bird enthusiast, or an app (see tip #5). Once you know which bird wowed you, learn more about it.
3. Set a realistic goal.
James recommends starting with a “familiar five,” as it’s likely you know at least a handful of birds already. Identify five species you’re comfortable with; then move to a familiar 15 and so on. But try not to get overwhelmed. “It’s not the knowledge of birds that makes you a birder,” says James. “It’s the joy you have about birds and how you share it.”
4. Notice the details.
James says there’s a lot to be gained from paying attention to the little things when observing birds. “‘Small brown bird’ describes a lot of birds,” he notes. Notice that the little brown bird also has a white bar above its eye, and a little black bib, and a yellow beak, and it’s bigger or smaller than this other bird you know. “All of a sudden these details start to collect,” says James.
5. Take a class and/or download an app.
Many birding groups offer in-person and online courses. Enroll in one—or download one of the many free apps. James likes Merlin Bird ID for beginners because it includes real-life photos of birds in their habitats. And it can help you narrow down species by taking factors such as time of year, your location, and migration routes into account. James cautions against sound-only IDs because birds are excellent mimics.
6. Tell your bird story.
And ask others for theirs. “I always go back to the idea that everybody has a story about birds,” says James, “whether it’s about the robin in your garden or the cardinal you hear on your commute.” Find your own bird story, tell it, and make a space for others to share theirs.
7. Get engaged.
Consider recording your observations in an online database like eBird, or participating in annual events such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Great Backyard Bird Count. These activities offer a way to engage with other birders and support research that relies on community input.
8. Support birds at home.
Bring birds to your yard or neighborhood green space by adding feeders or birdhouses. Such offerings welcome local and migrating species and make birdwatching easy—from your own window or on a daily walk, for instance. Be sure to provide a diverse mix of seeds and follow other best practices, such as cleaning feeders and raking hulls to prevent the spread of disease.
9. Enjoy the moment.
In the end, don’t forget to acknowledge the journey these creatures make and enjoy the moment. “Birds are going all across the hemisphere,” says James, “and the fact that one stopped in a tree near you and did a little ‘tweet’ before going on in its flight, being in that moment is absolutely magical.”
Tykee James hosts the podcast On Word for Wildlife, is cofounder of the Freedom Birders movement, and was an organizer of the first Black Birders Week in 2020. A former government affairs coordinator for the National Audubon Society, he is currently co-chair of Amplify the Future, which supports environmental education, and a board member with Justice Outside.
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Attract
Tap your kids’ creativity by making a bird feeder. Milk cartons, plastic bottles, and egg crates make excellent up-cycled vessels for feeding backyard birds. Also consider repurposing outgrown toys like Legos or Tonka trucks to hold birdseed. Dive into your arts-and-crafts bin or send kids outside to collect fallen leaves, pine needles, acorns, or other nature-made adornments.
