Bird watching is a terrific hobby. It’s a hobby that gives us another reason to spend time outdoors, enjoying the wilderness throughout the Bitterroot Valley. Now you don’t need any special equipment to begin bird watching; you can simply go out into the outdoors and commune with nature. But the hobby of bird watching, which is also often referred to as birding, is enhanced with a few tools and some general knowledge.
Binoculars
For birding, binoculars are a very helpful tool. You can spend anywhere between twenty bucks on up to thousands of bucks on a pair of binos; the main differences in the drastic leaps in price are in the quality of the glass: simpler binos use a cheaper glass—sometimes replacing glass with plastic. A cheaper glass is less sharp, and it can also induce headaches over time. When you purchase binoculars go to a sporting goods store and try out a few different pairs. Pick the type that’s best suited for your eyes and your budget. Also make sure the binos can focus quickly and easily. Another difference in binos is in magnification. For birding, you will want a pair of binos with at least an 8×32 magnification.
Bird Guide
A good bird guide is a birders best friend. Get to know it in and out—you don’t have to memorize all the birds, but know where to find the different bird families (a bit of research in the bird book will speed up the process of identification when you’re out on the trail). Also do a little research on the area where you plan to look for birds. Once you know a few different species that frequent the area, go online to find the exact song those particular species sing. Then, when you’re out on the trail, you’ll be even more connected.
Have Fun!
Most importantly have fun. Birding, like most things in the outdoors, is a contradiction: it’s incredibly relaxing but also completely exhilarating. Take your time outside, appreciate the trails and meadows and forests throughout the Bitterroot Valley. And stay safe.
