“The
bird-watcher’s life is an endless succession of surprises.” W. H. Hudson—The
Book of a Naturalist.
AT Kosi Bay, near the border between South
Africa and Mozambique, Keith, Evelyn, Jannie, and their guide walked 15 miles [22
km] to see a bird. This was not just any bird! They were in search of
the palm-nut vulture—a large black-and-white bird with red skin around the
eyes. It feeds on dead fish and the fruit of oil palms.
Keith relates: “After the long walk, we came
home disappointed at having seen only one—and that at a distance in flight.
Upon arrival back at our camp, what did we find? Three palm-nut vultures
sitting in a palm tree above us! We enjoyed their company for about half an
hour before they took off, giving us a wonderful display with wings fully
outstretched. The same day, we also saw a Pel’s fishing owl for the first time.
Yes, an owl that catches fish!”
A Thrill for
Anyone
The world over, birds are beautiful to watch
and hear. The more than 9,600 species provide opportunities for any alert
watcher. Who does not thrill to see the darting flash of color of a hummingbird
or a kingfisher? Who does not stop when captivated by the repertoire of a
mockingbird, a nightingale, or an Australian superb lyrebird or by the
distinctive call of the cuckoo or the musical gurgling of the Australian
magpie?
Bird-watching (birding, as it is commonly
called in the United States) is the observation of wild birds. It can be as
vigorous as you decide to make it. You may have no desire to slosh through
swamps or climb mountains to find rare birds. However, many people find birding
in their backyard or garden to be satisfying and refreshing. Many put out water
and a bird feeder to attract the local bird life. Each year the number of
enthusiasts increases. More and more people believe that it is worth the
effort.
Why Is It So
Popular?
According to the book An America
Challenged, by Steve H. Murdock, between the years 1990 and 2050,
bird-watching is expected to grow at a faster rate than the U.S. population. New
Scientist magazine reported that “more and more people in India are
taking to the pursuit of the feathered bipeds.” And Gordon Holtshausen, chairman
of the Publications Committee of BirdLife South Africa, believes that “in South
Africa . . . [bird] books are second only to the Bible.”
Once you see a bird through a bird-watcher’s
eyes, you will be hooked! Birding is contagious. It can be an inexpensive
diversion that takes you outdoors into the open spaces and challenges your
mind. It has the appeal of the hunt without the killing. Since children and
adults pick it up quickly, it can be enjoyed by families or by groups of
friends. It can even be enjoyed alone. Birding is a clean, wholesome, healthy
pastime and can be done year-round just about anywhere.
Basics for Birding
Do you sometimes see a bird and wonder what
it is called? A sense of satisfaction comes from learning the names of not just
imposing eagles, peacocks, and swans but also the easily overlooked nightjars
and earthcreepers. There are also the look-alike sandpipers and fall plumage
wood warblers and all those in between.
In order to identify them, you will need a
field guide to the birds of your country or region. This is a pocket-size book
with illustrations and descriptions of the male and female of each species. The
better guides also include immature and seasonal plumage.
What else does a beginner need? A good pair
of binoculars is to a birder what a fishing rod or net is to a fisherman. You
will be astonished by the details in your neighborhood birds when you see them
through binoculars. For example, in Africa a huge hippopotamus is hard to miss.
But unless you are using binoculars, you may not see the small red-billed
oxpecker feeding on parasites while clinging to the hippo’s back.
Not all binoculars are designed for birding,
and there is no substitute for actually comparing how various models perform.
Among birders, two popular models are 7 x 42 and 8 x 40. The first
number refers to the power of magnification, and the second, to the diameter of
the large lens in millimeters. The National Geographic Field Guide
to the Birds of North America
explains that “a ratio of 1 to 5 between magnification power and lens size is
generally considered ideal for light-gathering capability.” This allows you to
pick out colors even in poor lighting conditions. Thus, higher magnification is
not necessarily better. Clarity is what you want.
Where to Start
Looking? Your Neighborhood
The person who knows the birds in his own
neighborhood will be much better prepared for a trip to some other place to
find less common or less visible birds. Do you know which species are the
permanent residents around your home? Which ones are the flyovers that never
seem to land, perhaps on their way to a nearby lake or marsh? What migratory
transients pass through in their seasonal travels? Christopher Leahy, in his
book The Birdwatcher’s Companion, wrote: “In North
America, [migration] involves about 80 percent of the approximately 645 species
of breeding birds.”
Some of these migrants may make a stopover
near your home to refuel and rest up. Avid birders in some areas have
identified more than 210 species of birds in their own backyard! You will find
it interesting and educational to keep a log of the dates when you see a
species for the first and last time each year.
Ways to Watch
Birds
With binoculars around your neck and a field
guide in your pocket, you are now ready to explore beyond the backyard. Bird
checklists are often available at parks and nature reserves. These usually
indicate in which seasons species are seen there and what the likelihood is of
your finding them. A checklist will be a useful tool to verify your sightings.
If the bird that you think you have just seen is listed as rare, then it would
be good to scrutinize it, especially if you are a beginner.(See the box “Basic
Guide for Identification.”) On the other hand, if it is listed as abundant,
likely you have identified it correctly.
Try to obtain in advance a map showing the
trails and the types of habitats you will encounter. The bird life is usually
richer where two or more habitats meet. Whether you walk around or remain stationary,
endeavor to blend in with the surroundings, and wait for the birds to come to
you. Be patient.
In some places there is a telephone number
that enthusiasts can call to listen to reports of interesting recent sightings
in the area.
Advance Preparation Pays
Off
Targeting specific birds is rewarding, but it
is to your advantage to read up beforehand on those that you would like to see.
If you are in the Caribbean, perhaps your heart is set on finding the tody,
whether it be the Cuban, Puerto Rican, or Jamaican variety. It is a chunky
little jewel of brightly colored green and red feathers. Herbert Raffaele’s Guide
to the Birds of Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands tells us that it “is difficult to see,
but is often heard.” The Cuban todies are known for their voracious appetites
and the rapid rate at which they feed their young. After describing the bird’s
method of feeding, Raffaele gives this advice: “Knocking two stones together
will often attract them.”
You may want to time a field trip so you can
witness a certain event in the life history of a species, such as the striking
aerial display of one of the woodcocks in the early spring. Or it could be the
impressive numbers of white storks at Gibraltar or the Bosporus preparing for
their flight to Africa in the fall. Or the migration of birds over Israel.
Admittedly, planning to find a special bird
is unlike visiting a historical monument that you know will always be there.
Birds are constantly on the move. They are full of life. And variety. And
surprises. But the search and the wait are worth the effort!
All of this is what makes bird-watching
exciting. Despite your planning, the birds may not be there when you are—at
least not the birds you are hoping to see. But no one can say what other
unexpected discoveries await you. One thing is for sure, birds will never
disappoint you. Just be patient. Happy bird-watching! And don’t forget their
Designer!—Genesis 1:20; 2:19; Job
39:13-18, 27-29.
[Footnote]
Birds are divided into eight main visual
categories: (1) swimmers—ducks and ducklike birds, (2) aerialists—gulls
and gull-like birds, (3) long-legged waders—herons and cranes, (4) smaller
waders—plover and sandpipers, (5) fowllike birds—grouse and quail, (6) birds
of prey—hawks, eagles, and owls, (7) passerine (perching) birds, and (8) nonpasserine
land birds.—A Field Guide to the Birds
East of the Rockies, by Roger Tory Peterson.
Basic Guide for
Identification
When first spotting an unfamiliar bird, it may be helpful to try to
answer some of the following questions:
1. What kind of coloration does the
bird have—solid, streaked, spotted or speckled?
2. In which habitat is the bird
located—water, swamp, marsh, meadow or forest?
3. What size is the bird? Compare with
a familiar bird—sparrow, robin, pigeon or hawk.
4. How does the bird behave—darts
after insects, soars, bobs tail, holds tail up or down, or walks on the ground?
5. What shape is the bill—short and
pointed, short and stout, long, curved or hooked?
By looking at these “Field Marks” and referring to a basic bird guide,
even the novice can begin to recognize the common species.—Exhibit Guide,
Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey, U.S.A.
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Taken from AWAKE magazine at www.jw.org
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