You hear it everywhere — get outside, commune with nature, walk barefoot and ground yourself. This is so important, yet for many of us, it is advice that is ignored, and it is so needed.
One activity I advocate is bird watching, or as I like to call it, bird seeking. Every time I find a new park or some inviting outdoor space, I go bird seeking. I call it that because to me, it’s like a treasure hunt and the reward is a beautiful creature, maybe one you have never seen before.
For those of you who have never tried it, I encourage you to venture out with a good pair of binoculars, your five senses, and either a guidebook or the Merlin app on your phone and explore. If you don’t have binoculars, places like the Quakertown Free Library, Peace Valley Nature Center and Bucks County Audubon all have bird-watching kits for loan that you can sign out as you get out and explore.
If you have never looked for birds before let me offer some suggestions. To be clear, I am not an elite birdwatcher, I am a recreational watcher and enjoy the time outdoors as much as what I may or may not find. I don’t always identify the birds correctly, and I frequently stumble on sparrows and warblers.
The point is to get outside, enjoy the beauty that surrounds you, and meet some new neighbors.
Here are things you can do to enhance your experience, regardless of your level of expertise:
Approach the outdoors with a calm mind and be open to anything. No agenda required, just walk, and use all your senses to feel your surroundings. Breathe deeply to reduce the chatter in your head. If you can, do some relaxation exercises before you even go out. I actually find walking in the woods, looking for birds, as a type of meditation.
Use soft eyes to see and let things happen to you. By soft eyes, I mean relax your eyes. Sometimes it’s easier to see motion when you are not focused on “finding things.” Scan.
Listen to the myriad of calls you may hear. Notice...where are they coming from? Are they up high or down low? Does it sound like an alarm or is it just a pleasant song? If there is a particular call that appeals to you, try to single it out and look to see if you can find the source. Be patient and follow the sound.
Practice silence and listening rather than talking.
As you go out more often, read your guides, and use your apps, you’ll learn quickly. First you will get to know all the usual subjects, your backyard birds like blue jays and robins. You’ll notice their various calls, sometimes their color changes (in and out of breeding season), and the habitat where you are most likely to find them. You’ll learn their behaviors and feeding styles. All these elements will add up to give you a fuller picture of each bird and its unique niche in the environment. You’ll also learn its personality traits.
Most of all, be patient and nice to yourself. Looking for birds can be frustrating if you let it be. Don’t let it be. Birds hide well, their calls have dialects, and they don’t always look like the picture in the guide. Take the first step and just get outside and out of your head. Go to a special place and enjoy the beauty around you. Enjoy it on your own or with friends. Just go. Go and meet some neighbors.
Barbara Beck is a Bird Town leader for Richland Township.
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