I love hiking. It doesn’t matter where I am or who I’m with, as long as I’m on a trail somewhere. One of the things I enjoy is being in nature and having silence or just listening to the sound of some birds. Yeah, it seems like no matter where you hike, you’ll almost always see or hear a few birds. Unlike large mammals, which are more difficult to see, birds are ubiquitous. Here are some simple tips to help hikers learn how to be better bird watchers and get more out of their time in nature.
First of all, it’s important to be quiet and listen (unless you’re in an area heavily traveled by bears). The birds are always talking and listening. This means that they can hear if there are people around, which can sometimes make them quiet. To prevent them from being quiet, you should try to be quiet yourself and listen around you. You may be surprised at how many different types and numbers of birds you can hear in any one place. Once you hear where the bird noise is coming from, the trick becomes trying to see the bird.
Next, try walking or walking slowly. If you take a walk or brisk walk, you won’t see as many birds as if you went slower. The best way to see and hear many birds is to walk slowly and pay attention to the sounds and movements along the trail. If you’re trying to get a good workout in and want to go fast, you can try alternating your pace. For example, try going really fast for 15 minutes, then slow down and walk for 5 or 10 minutes, then speed up again for 15 and so on.
If you still want to walk fast, then another option for you, which is even better than walking slowly, is to stay still. Actually, this is a great idea for anyone, no matter what pace you’re walking at. Pick a good spot somewhere out of the way and just sit or stand still for several minutes. This could be on a rock, a log, or under a tree. By sitting still and keeping your eyes and ears open, you will have the opportunity to see or hear all the birds in the area. The birds may even get used to your presence and start to become active again.
Fortunately, you really can choose any place to sit and look for birds because birds live everywhere in all habitats. You can see birds near water, in forests, open meadows, or high up in mountains. With that in mind, the best places to see most birds are places on the edge of two different habitats, such as at the edge of a forest next to a meadow. Another great place to see lots of birds is near water, such as along a stream, river, lake, or wetland.
While walking or sitting still, you should always be aware of movement. Often, he may only see a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. That movement may turn out to be just a few leaves blowing in the wind or it could be a bird darting from one bush to another. If you stand still and look in that direction, you may see the bird move again. It can be difficult to see a bird sitting still in a bush or tree. But, once the bird moves, you will easily see it and by following its movement you will be able to see where it lands.
Birds tend to be more active at certain times of the day, which makes them easier to spot because they fly or move around a lot. Fortunately for hikers, the best times of day to see birds are also good times to go hiking. The best times to see birds are in the early morning or evening, as this is when most birds are most active. I love to hike in the morning or at night when it’s not too hot and you can even get the added bonus of seeing a sunset.
Following these simple tips will help you see lots of birds the next time you go hiking. The next step is to learn how to start identifying the birds you are seeing.