Bird Watching For Dummies

Birds are everywhere. Why not start really watching them? Sometimes, all it takes is a “spark bird” to open the door. A bird, seen well, so unexpectedly beautiful and interesting that it cracks you wide open. Bird Watching For Dummies is a spark book, teaching you all you need to know about this fun, affordable, and accessible hobby.  It gently guides as you explore your local habitats, learn to recognize more and more species, and reap the many mental health benefits of connecting to the outdoors and all the wonders it holds. This book gets you started, teaching you how to identify birds by sight and sound, find birdwatching hotspots, and get the birds to come to your own backyard. You’ll learn about the latest gear, the best field guides and online apps that will jump-start your bird identification skills. Into photography? This book has your back, with tips on getting good photos for identification and aesthetic purposes. Find out how to join a local bird club, find a field trip or a group tour to rainforest, desert, seacoast, mountains or prairie. Every habitat has its own special birds, and when the birding bug bites, you’ll want to see them all. Get started with bird watching or take your hobby to the next level Improve your skills with tips for identifying birds by sight and sound Understand bird behavior and learn gardening tips that will bring the birds to you Choose field guides, binoculars, apps, and other tools of the trade Bird Watching For Dummies will teach beginners and novices how to start bird watching, sharpen their bird watching skills, and expand their knowledge.

Foreword xvii Introduction 1 Part 1: Watching Birds — A Natural Habit 5 Chapter 1: Birds and the People Who Love Them 7 Chapter 2: Tools That Take You Up Close and Personal 17 Chapter 3: Identifying Birds (“lf It Walks Like a Duck .”) 27 Chapter 4: Taxonomy and Nomenclature 49 Chapter 5: Watching Bird Behavior 67 Chapter 6: Bird Sounds: News and Entertainment 87 Part 2: Backyard Bird Watching 103 Chapter 7: Making a Bird-Friendly Yard 105 Chapter 8: Bird Feeding: The Start of It All 119 Chapter 9: Gardening for the Birds 151 Part 3: Bird Sighting 101: Using Your Tools 169 Chapter 10: Binoculars and How to Use Them 171 Chapter 11: Choosing and Using Field Guides 189 Chapter 12: Writing It Down 205 Part 4: Beyond the Backyard 227 Chapter 13: Migration: When Birds and Birders Get Moving 229 Chapter 14: Taking a Field Trip 245 Chapter 15: Birding by Habitat 265 Chapter 16: Birding Hotspots 277 Chapter 17: Birding Tours: On Site with a Pro 287 Chapter 18: Festivals and Other Events 297 Part 5: Once You’re Hooked 305 Chapter 19: Birding That Makes a Difference 307 Chapter 20: Bird Photography 329 Chapter 21: Advanced Bird ID. 351 Part 6: The Part of Tens 363 Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Help Save Birds 365 Chapter 23: Ten Frequently Asked Questions About Birds 369 Index 375