If you have ever wanted to take up bird watching, or introduce your kids to the hobby, winter is the best time to start. Although many other outdoor activities are best learned during warmer months, there are many reasons why winter is the perfect time of year to begin birding. As a biologist with a background in ornithology and a serious love of migratory ducks, I was happy to get my own kids their first pairs of binoculars and introduce them to one of my favorite forms of winter recreation. Here are a few reasons you might want to get started this winter, too.
Birds are easier to see in the winter
When the foliage drops from the trees, birds’ visibility increases greatly. During the winter months, you can easily spot many birds that would have been camouflaged by the leaves of the trees. And with the aid of binoculars, you can search the treetops from a distance whenever you hear a familiar song. This makes birding in winter a more rewarding experience for kids.
Some birds are only here in the winter
Migratory birds, such as eagles, songbirds and waterfowl, may not be present in your area during the summer, or if they are, they might not be around in great numbers. One of my favorite winter birds, the dark-eyed junco, is a cute little charcoal colored sparrow that flashes stripes of white on its tail while it pecks at seeds on the ground. Although they seem to be almost everywhere in the United States during the winter, they are seldom found in the summer.
Birds are easy to attract in the winter
If you would prefer to do backyard bird watching rather than go out birding in the wild, you are in luck. It is easy to attract a wide variety of songbirds to your backyard feeder in the winter, partly due to the limited availability of food elsewhere. Just remember, if you start feeding the birds, keep it up. They’ll come to depend on you as a food source, and you shouldn’t let them down.
Hiking may be easier in the winter
Dangers along the hiking trail, such as poison ivy and snakes, are less of a problem during winter months than they are in the summer. That means, as long as you aren’t hiking through the ice and snow, your hike is likely to be safer, and your birding experience may be a lot more fun.
Remember to dress appropriately
If you’ll be birding in the outdoors, on a trail or near a lake or pond, make sure and dress appropriately. Wear layers to keep warm, and wear shoes or boots that are comfortable and have a good tread. Also, remember that your phone reception may not be great in remote areas, so make sure people know where you have gone and when you will return, just in case of emergencies.
More by Tavia:
Search for Evidence of Wildlife on Your Hike
Five Most Common Hiking Dangers on the Trail
Ways to Stay Warm During Winter Activities
This easy to make Mini Ice Cream Cone Shaped Cakes are perfect for a baby…
Following Steve Irwin's September 2006 death, nearly a year later his memory resurfaces. However, it's…
These days it seems like everyone has an mp3 player in their hips. It's no…
Many parents are curious about how their child is developing compared to other children of…
Buying on margin is a method of investing money in stocks without having to pay…
Most women that have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, also have insulin…
This website uses cookies.