Bird Spotting

You’re out for a walk with your family in a park in your hometown. The sun has just risen on a spring morning. Suddenly, a series of high-pitched notes pierces the quiet. Together, they sound like the words “Sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet!” You recognize the tune of a songbird called a yellow warbler. 

You look up and scan the trees around you. It’s hard to spot anything in the swaying branches. But you don’t get discouraged. The search is part of the fun of observing birds in their natural habitat. This activity is called birdwatching, or birding. Every year, millions of people take part in birding activities across the U.S.

Yamina Nater-Otero began birding more than two years ago. Today, she teaches young people about birds and how to protect their habitat with the organization Audubon New York. She sees birding as an activity to connect people with nature, no matter where they live. “I love that it’s a hobby that gets me out of the house year-round,” says Nater-Otero.

You’re out for a walk with your family. You’re walking in a park in your hometown. The sun has just risen. It’s a spring morning. Suddenly, a few high-pitched notes pierce the quiet. Together, they sound like the words “Sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet!” You recognize the tune. It’s the sound of a songbird called a yellow warbler.

You look up. You scan the trees around your family. It’s hard to spot anything in the swaying branches. But you keep looking. The search is part of the fun of observing birds in their natural habitat. This activity is called birdwatching, or birding. Millions of people go birding in the United States every year.

Yamina Nater-Otero began birding more than two years ago. Today, she teaches young people about birds with the organization Audubon New York. She also teaches her students how to protect birds’ habitats. She sees birding as an activity to connect people with nature, no matter where they live. “I love that it’s a hobby that gets me out of the house year-round,” says Nater-Otero.

Spring is a great time to take up birdwatching. Many birds are on the move these months. And you can hear them singing. About half of all birds are migratory. They travel to new places as the seasons change. These trips happen twice a year.

The weather turns chilly as fall begins in North America. Migratory birds travel south to avoid the cold. They head to Central and South America. They fly back north to the U.S. and Canada during the spring. There, they find mates and lay eggs (see Where Birds Travel). Some round-trip migrations can cover 70,800 kilometers (44,000 miles). That’s nearly the distance of two trips around the planet! 

Spring is a great time to take up birdwatching. Many birds are on the move these months. And you can hear them singing. About half of all birds are migratory. They travel to new places as the seasons change. These trips happen twice a year.

The weather turns chilly as fall begins in North America. Migratory birds travel south to avoid the cold. They head to Central and South America. They fly back north to the U.S. and Canada during the spring. There, they find mates and lay eggs (see Where Birds Travel, page 7). Some round-trip migrations can cover 70,800 kilometers (44,000 miles). That’s nearly the distance of two trips around the planet!

These journeys can be treacherous. Migrating birds often cross large bodies of water with nowhere to rest. The ruby-throated hummingbird, for instance, flies 18-22 hours across the Gulf of Mexico without stopping. Storms can blow birds off course. Birds can collide with buildings or other structures. Predators like hawks can attack at any time. 

When the birds finally arrive in North America, they create a magical experience for birders, says Nater-Otero. “Our green spaces are filled with bright fluttering birds singing loudly.”

These journeys can be tough. The birds often cross large bodies of water. There’s no place to rest. One of those birds is the ruby-throated hummingbird. It crosses the Gulf of Mexico. It flies 18 to 22 hours without stopping. Storms can blow birds off course. Birds can hit buildings or other structures. Hawks and other animals can attack at any time. 

The birds finally arrive in North America. There, they create a magical experience for birders, says Nater-Otero. “Our green spaces are filled with bright fluttering birds singing loudly,” she says.

A patient birdwatcher can spot these migrating birds. And you don’t have to travel far. You can spot birds in both rural areas and big cities. Across the U.S., you might see a robin, a sparrow, or a mourning dove from your window! 

You don’t need special tools to get started either, says Nater-Otero. Birds can be anywhere—in the trees or shrubs, on the ground, in marshes, or perched on power lines. Binoculars let you see a bird’s plumage, or feathers. That can help you identify the bird’s species. You can use a bird guide book, app, or birding website to learn which birds are found in your area.

A patient birdwatcher can spot these migrating birds. And you don’t have to travel far. Just look out your window! You might see a robin, a sparrow, or a mourning dove. They’re found across the U.S. 

You don’t need special tools to get started either, says Nater-Otero. Birds can be anywhere. They can be in trees or shrubs, or on the ground. They can be in marshes or on power lines. Binoculars can help you get a closer look. You can see the colors of a bird’s plumage. A bird’s feathers can help you identify its species. You can use a bird guide book, app, or birding website. They can show which birds are in your area.

But you don’t need to see birds up close to enjoy them. In fact, it’s important to give birds plenty of space and try not to disturb them. Birds have unique calls they use to attract mates or keep other birds away. You can bird by ear, says Nater-Otero, by learning these calls and songs. Hearing a bird is often the first step to spotting it.

The best time of day to observe birds is in the morning, when birds are most active. But putting bird feeders in your yard will attract birds all day. 

But you don’t need to see birds up close to enjoy them. In fact, it’s important to give birds plenty of space. Try not to disturb them. Birds have unique calls. They use them to attract mates or keep other birds away. You can bird by ear, says Nater-Otero, by learning these calls and songs. Hearing a bird is often the first step to spotting it.

The morning is the best time of day for birdwatching. It’s when birds are most active. You can also put bird feeders in your yard. They’ll attract birds all day. 

No matter how you spot birds, take notes on what you see and hear. You can log your observations on a website like eBird.org, run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Scientists use the data to track bird populations and migration routes. Over time, the information can help scientists understand which species are struggling and need better protection.

Birds face many threats in the wild, from climate change to habitat loss. Nater-Otero hopes that learning about birds will encourage people to protect them and the places where they live. “We breathe the same air birds breathe,” she says. “We use the same water and live in the same spaces. When we work to protect bird habitats, we work to protect our own homes.”

When you go birdwatching, take notes on what you see. You can log your sightings on a website like eBird.org. It’s run by Cornell University. Scientists use the data to count bird populations. They also track bird migration routes. The information tells them which species are struggling.

Birds face many threats. These include climate change and loss of their wild homes. Nater-Otero hopes that learning about birds will encourage people to protect them and the places where they live. “We breathe the same air birds breathe,” she says. “We use the same water and live in the same spaces. When we work to protect bird habitats, we work to protect our own homes.”