Getting "out
there" is key. But, here are some ways to get more out of
that experience and thereby improve your birding
skills:
Before going on a field trip, make a list of the birds you
are likely to see and check them out in your field guide.
Take the list with you and compare that list with the birds
that you actually do see. You'll find that your birding
skills will improve.
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When out in the field, don't fumble with your field guide,
but watch a bird as long as you can, making notes on its
appearance and behavior. What is it doing? What size is it?
What shape is it? What color? What are its prominent marks?
Does it have wingbars, an eyeline, a long tail? Resist the
temptation to check the field guide when you can be
observing the bird! The bird will eventually fly away, but
the bird's picture will remain in the book.
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Bird Watching Basics - An Introduction
for Beginning Bird Watchers
Published by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, this has terrific tips for birders at all
stages, but is an excellent starting point especially for
those new to birding.
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How to ID Birds from Cornell details how to think about
the following features when trying to ID a bird:
silouette, field marks, posture, size, flight pattern,
and habitat.
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Take Field Notes. Here's a good primer on how to
proceed:
http://www.northbirding.com/idtraining/fieldnotes.htm
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Video Podcasts related to the new Peterson Field Guide
to Birds are educational, free, and FUN. They are
divided into four categories: Family Overviews, Species
Profiles, Tutorials, and Roger Tory Petersen Biography.
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Join one or more internet mailing lists. They'll keep you
apprised of what others are seeing in our area.........or
give you a "heads up" as to what birds can soon be expected
to migrate through.
Birdbrains: Florida Birds/Natural History
http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html
FlaBirding: Florida and the Bahamas
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/
FLORIDABIRDS-L: Statewide list
http://bkpass.tripod.com/floridabirds.htm
SWFLBirdline: Southwest Florida
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWFLBirdline/
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Join Bird Patrol on our monthly Lakes Park and/or Bunche
Beach tours (see Site Tours link for dates and times).
Lakes Park is full of woodland birds, as well as waders,
especially in the back areas. Bunche Beach is one of the
best spots in the county for shorebirds. It's a chance to
learn from others.
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Other local groups that have birding field trips that you
can hop on to (some charge a fee, others do not).
Sanibel-Captiva Audubon
Society
Audubon of Southwest
Florida
Caloosa Bird Club
Peace River Audubon
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Buddy-up: Via email, let the Bird Patrol group know
that you would like to visit other sites.........or, let
the group know when you are going to YOUR site and invite
us to join you.
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Check "Birding Links" on this
Bird Patrol web site for other helpful resources
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Google "improve birding skills" from time to time and see
what others throughout the world are saying about this.