My foray into some basic birding began with me getting sick of asking Outdoor Guy "What's that?" or "And that bird would be..." He's never reluctant to answer. In fact, sometimes he'll pop off with the common name AND the scientific name. Show off.
Not that it's hard to show me up when it comes to birds. I spent my youth in dusty arenas learning about flying lead changes and balancing hog rations, not loons and bitterns. If you need a cow or a horse or even a sheep identified, I'm your girl. Birds...not so much.
The final straw came a few weeks ago while visiting in Sheridan. We were outside enjoying the warm spring day and a week-old dairy calf, a Brown Swiss that I was easily able to identify. I pointed out a bird alternating between pecking at a tree and pecking at the suet hanging in the tree. (Suet, by the way, is just a fancy term for animal fat. Learned that one the hard way too.)
"You mean, that bird right there, the one with the red head pecking the wood? Well, dear, that would be a red-headed woodpecker."
In his defense, I don't think he was trying to be condescending. I think I'm just not used to not being the most brilliant one in the room. It was positively irritating.
"Ahhh," I replied with as much pride and indignation as I could muster. Stupid college wildlife majors anyway.
Since then, I've vowed to become a better birder and pay more attention to my avian neighbors.
It's been fun, peering out the window and trying to identify the species at which I'm looking. Just by keeping my eyes open, I've noticed more and different birds in the last three months than I think I have in my three years at the Game and Fish - kingfishers, great gray owls, tanagers, etc. On a recent trip to Jackson, I got to see a pair of sandhill cranes come in for a landing on a pond just adjacent to the road.
The Wyoming Bird Check List, distributed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department under the Worth the Watching program, lists more than 400 bird species that spend at least some time in the Cowboy State. Fifty-nine of those species are classified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need under the department's 2005 Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Some birds, like the sage grouse, we know a lot about. Others, like the dickcissel or lark bunting, we need more data on to determine population stability - where they live, how many there are, preferred habitats, etc.
Birding is a great way to get more involved in the outdoors and learn more about wildlife and the natural landscape. It's an easy, inexpensive hobby that can be both healthful and fun. I've gotten a number of tips from lifetime bird watchers over the last few weeks to help me better enjoy my newfound hobby. I'll share them with you here, so hopefully when you take to the skies this summer, you're better equipped to enjoy the bird beautification around us.
With so many species calling Wyoming home, it hasn't been hard to start finding birds to watch. The hardest part is identifying them. That's where a comprehensive field guide comes in handy. A good field guide will help 
you learn the basic bird groups and tell you where you might find them at what times of the year. I bought the National Geographic version, as recommended by Outdoor Guy. Western Birds, one book in the Peterson Field Guide Series, is also very popular. As it so happens, you can purchase Western Birds directly from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's online gift store by clicking here. Field guides are also available from your local bookstore or online merchants like Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. Take the time to read the introductory pages of the field guide too. They contain additional tips that can help you be more productive.
Hearing is a bird's strongest sense and they communicate through sound signals. Hearing the birds is half of the fun. Purchase or download audio CDs and DVDs that help with bird identification through song. If you are a technology junkie like me, you can download those to an IPOD or other MP3 player and take then into the field with you, making for instant song idenfitication.
2. Invest Wisely
When compared to hunting or fishing, bird-watching is inexpensive. You can get started birding with just a good field guide and pair of binoculars. But don't scrimp too much - buy the best equipment you can afford. A good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope will make a world of difference to you. I went birding with a friend outside of Lander a few weeks ago, and even with a telephoto lens on my digital camera, I still couldn't see what she could with a good spotting scope. The ruddy duck she pointed out might has well have been a duck silhouette at a carnival shooting gallery for all I knew. I missed out on seeing great species because I just didn't have the right equipment.
There are lots of articles and information out there on buying binoculars or spotting scopes, so I won't repeat that information here. It all comes down to what feels good to you and what you are willing to spend. If you still aren't sure where to start, ask other birders you know for advice on optics or visit www.birdwatching.com or www.birdingguide.com and browse their birding optics section for ideas.
Other equipment and items you'll need are comfortable shoes or boots for hiking, a coat to keep you warm and dry, a hat to protect your head and of course, sunscreen and bug repellent. A camera can also help you document your adventures, especially if you have one with a powerful telephoto lens.
3. Habitat is for the Birds
This may sound like common sense, but go to where there are birds! There are only so many species you can see in a single location, so plan some field trips to known birding hotspots. These may be local ponds or wetlands, or a national forest, park or national refuge. If there are certain birds you are interested in watching, learn about their preferred habitats and seek out those areas.
Be sensitive to the time of year as well. Many Wyoming bird species are migratory animals, meaning they only spend part of their time in our state. Know when the migration seasons are, so you can plan accordingly and see new species as they are traveling through.
It might also go without saying, but be respectful of the habitat and the birds. Keep well back from nests, nesting colonies, roosts, display areas and important feeding sites. Take advantage of natural cover or try using a blind to minimize disturbance to the birds. Always be respectful of private property rights and local regulations concerning wildlife watching.
4. Take Good Notes
Get a notebook to take bird-watching with you and get in the habit of taking notes. Sketching and taking field notes will improve your observation skills. Write notes about what the bird looks like, where you found it and what it was doing. Look at size, shape, color, plumage, etc. Document the type of habitat it was in and sketch out a picture of the bird. You don't have to be the best artist in the world - remember, this is something fun just for you!
Consider picking up a copy of the Wyoming Bird Checklist. The checklist is a free-publication distributed by the Game and Fish that has a listing of bird species found in Wyoming during the year. It offers a small space for you to record notes and can be a fun way to keep track of the species you've seen. The checklist is available for free at all Game and Fish offices across the state. There are also electronic diaries available for purchase for the more sophisticated birder. For once, I'm going the old fashioned way - a spiral notebook with a pocket for my checklist and yellow #2 pencil with a now slighly used eraser (turns out that ibis I saw two weeks ago was actually an American avocet. See why a field guide is essential?)
Don't forget to document the sounds you hear as well. When you hear a bird's song, describe it to yourself in words. To me the yellow-headed blackbird call sounds like an electronic screech or croaking frog so that helps me remember its call. It might help to associate a word or phrase with the song. For example, to me, the western meadowlark sounds like its saying, cheerfully, I might add "Who's There? Who's it Gonna Be?" That phrase helps me remember the cadence and pitch of its song.
5. Bring the Birds to You
You can attract birds to your own yard with just a little work. Birds are like any other wildlife species, and need all four habitat elements to survive - food, water, shelter and space. Flowers, shrubs and trees can all be used for food and shelter. Consider a bird feeder, birdhouse or bird bath to further entice winged wonders to your home.
However, be warned. A few summers ago I found the cutest birdhouse at Hobby Lobby, and hung it up a few fenceposts away from my bird feeder. Not only did the squirrels destroy the feeder, wasps moved into the birdhouse. Not quite the backyard guests I was going for!
There are plenty of resources on backyard bird habitat. Just make sure you set up your yard to protect the birds from predators such as domestic pets, squirrels, insects or snakes.
6. Share the experience
As you start bird-watching, spend some time in the field with an experienced birder. Ask questions, take notes and try to be open to new facets of birding. Consider joining a local bird watching group or bird advocacy group such as Audubon. In Wyoming, there are five local Audubon chapters that host different events, field trips and seminars. (Click here for a listing of Wyoming chapters and contact information)
Also, take friends and family. The best experiences in life are often those shared with others. Bird-watching can be a standalone activity, or fit right in with other outdoor adventures such as floating, hiking, fishing or hunting. So get out there and enjoy the landscape. You'll be amazed at what you'll find just by tuning into the world around you.
