The Top 5 Pieces Of Gear I Recommend For Beginning Birders

Binoculars are an essential piece of equipment for birders. First of all, many birds, such as finches, are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye. Secondly, we humans aren’t as sneaky as we think. It’s easy to spook a bird while trying for a closer look — save yourself some trouble and purchase a decent pair of binoculars.

What should one consider when choosing binoculars? If you really want to get in-depth regarding binoculars, check out this thorough article from Birds & Bliss, featuring information on magnification, lens size, weight, and more. Generally speaking, be prepared to spend at least $50, and look for a 8 times magnification for general birdwatching.

The binoculars I use are Adorrgon. I love these binoculars because they work so well with my smartphone. They’re also reasonably lightweight and have excellent acuity.

Do you need backpack binoculars with a special scope attachment? Absolutely not. On the other hand, if you start enjoying this hobby, why not put a scope on your gift list? Tech might not be necessary, but it can make things easier and also add to the fun!

There are hundreds of species of birds in the U.S. alone, so having a guide to aid in identification is important. Many choices of field guides are available, so what are the hallmarks of a good field guide?

A comprehensive field guide should be relatively lightweight, detailed, and well-organized for ease of use. Hardcore birders will argue for days about the benefits of photographs versus illustrations. Those in favor of illustrations maintain that the artists are experienced birders who draw the birds in positions frequently found in nature. A beginning birder will be just fine with a field guide full of photos, too. Ultimately, it’s up to your preference. Here are some excellent field guides to consider:

Do you keep a journal? Many folks do keep journals, and enjoy looking over old volumes filled with memories. A field notebook can serve a similar purpose, with a bit of a scientific edge thrown in. Check out this example from 1960. Why keep a field notebook? This article speaks to reasons and gives a taste of the variety of note-taking styles out there.

As with other supplies, you can spend as much or as little as you like on a field notebook. Are you a practical person, no fuss, no muss? You could simply head over to your local Walmart and purchase a spiral notebook for a dollar or so. The challenge with such a notebook is that it may not be sturdy enough to be thrown in your backpack and carried through a humid forest without falling apart after a couple of months. Here are a few examples of good notebooks to bring with you on a birdwatching trip:

You don’t need to leave home to find birds — you can bring them right to your door with the right kind of bird seed! Simply put the seed mixture in a birdfeeder and wait for the crowds! It might take a while, but they will come.

There are many types of birdseed available. Besides bird specialty stores, you can find bird seed at Walmart, hardware stores, and even some grocery stores. Is it worth the extra money to purchase from a bird specialty store? The answer is yes. The reason? Filler. Bird seed purchased at your local grocery store will typically include filler seeds that birds don’t like. This filler ends up on your lawn, sprouting into a mess you don’t want. Additionally, you’ll get more of what the birds want to eat if you buy your bird seed from a specialty store. Yes, it’s more expensive, but in the long run, you’ll see less mess and more birds.

I’ve tried a few different brands, and the one that keeps birds coming back to my yard is Wagner’s Gourmet Songbird Banquet. I live in Nebraska, and my family loves songbirds! We see plenty of chickadees and cardinals when we have this mix in the feeder!