Have you ever wondered what type of birds regularly visit your home and garden? If you are interested in ornithology for bird spotting, why not include this as a task to do on your bucket list?
There is no doubt that observing birds from the comfort of your home can be exciting but also relaxing. As a hobby, you don’t need much equipment, and either a telescope or a good pair of binoculars is sufficient to get you started.
Getting started
You will also want to keep a record of the different kinds of birds that you have seen. This could take the form of a manual notebook or diary, but why not set up a spreadsheet to keep a record if you are computer-literate?
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB) can provide you with identification guides to enable you to record which birds you have spotted each day.
If you set up a bird feeder and an adequate supply of water, you can expect to attract all manner of birds to your home. Expect to see sparrows, blackbirds, doves, goldfinches, and a host of common tits such as the blue and great tits.
Although not always a welcome sight, you could even look forward to the regular visits of a sparrowhawk.
Tracking and recording
An excellent descriptive book or computer program will be needed so that you can tell what birds are frequent visitors and help you identify the more exotic species such as waxwings, garden warblers, and willow warblers in the summer.
This can be a very worthwhile pastime and is a great way to spend a cold winter’s day where you can expect to see many hungry birds.
You can even join a local ornithological club and report your sightings on their site. The RSPB also runs an annual Great British Birdwatch event where you can notify them what type of bird you see in your garden.
If you are interested in birds, consider bird spotting and cross another item off your bucket list.
