Getting Involved
The first thing to understand if you wish to extend your interest in birds is that you are far from alone. The most recent (2016) United States survey provides evidence: 39 million express an interest in bird watching and an even more spectacular 57 million feed birds. (Those numbers compare with 36 million anglers and 12 million hunters.)
And no wonder those numbers are so large. Bird watching is a very attractive activity. While you may begin by simply observing birds through your windows, perhaps at your feeders, to go any further involves getting out into local parks and woodlands. You learn more about your local community and about nature. And, perhaps most important: you break our increasingly sedentary habits: you actually exercise.
Becoming more active can be a problem, however. Too often beginners attend a meeting of a local bird club and find themselves isolated. The active participants don’t notice them and, turned off, they lose interest.
Fortunately, there is a far better way. Find a scheduled local bird outing and join that group. On such outings the atmosphere is very different. Often you can carpool with others and make new friends. (This writer met his best friend over 40 years ago in exactly this way.) And in this setting you will find experienced birders eager to point out to you the birds they locate.
Here then, as examples, are some specific sites for those living near Buffalo at which you can find such scheduled activities. Neither of them require prior membership:
Buffalo Ornithological Society
References
Identification
Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson. This is the basic reference for all birders and especially beginners. Peterson, originally from Jamestown, New York, here on the Niagara Frontier, wrote his first guide in 1934. It revolutionized birding activity by focusing on field marks that differentiate species. All of the books that have followed have followed his lead and, although Peterson died in 1996, today’s expanded edition continues in his tradition.
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley. Many experienced birders today have turned to this resource by a recognized contemporary birder: Many other field guides currently available. Weight is an issue here as you will wish to carry a guide on field trips.
Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern Region. Equally important for identification is a source providing bird songs for comparison. Many bird species are best identified by their song and a few — willow and alder flycatcher, for example — only by this means. The leading figure in bird recording has been Lang Elliot and his recordings are on these disks. Today there are several iPhone apps that serve equally well and are especially useful in the field: iBird Pro is one.
Regional Books
Niagara Birds by John E. Black and Kayo J. Roy. Although its contents address the Niagara Region of Ontario, this is the best current resource for the entire region.
Birds of the Niagara Frontier Region by Clark Beardslee and Harold Mitchell (supplement by Robert Andrle and Harold Mitchell) This 1965 book still provides historical background and is currently being revised by Mike Morgante and Willie D’Anna.
Bull’s Birds of New York State, edited by Emanuel Levine.
Birds of Ontario by J. Murray Speirs
The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State, edited by Kevin McGowan and Kimberley Crowin. A third Atlas project is already scheduled.
Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, edited by Michael Cadman, et al.
Equipment
Binoculars
Binoculars serve as the basic and necessary tool for birdwatching and beginners are well advised to seek information before buying these expensive optics. Although many birders choose a particular binocular because it has a high power, this is not the only feature to consider. Equally important is range of view. If your binoculars only provide a narrow image, you will often have trouble finding the bird you seek.
There is a fiscal concern to keep in mind as well: many experts suggest that the difference between good $150 binoculars and top-of-the-line $3000 binoculars is only 5-10%.
Finally, individual binoculars, no matter what the make, can get out-of-line, that is, the image for each eye differs. It is important to check this feature before you buy a pair.
An excellent recent reference is at: www.allaboutbirds.org/best-binoculars-the-cornell-lab-review-2013/ Another useful review is at: www.audubon.org/gear/binocular-guide
Telescopes and Tripods
A sturdy tripod is almost as important as the telescope (or camera) mounted on it. These represent more expense and many birders simply do without. (Or, like this writer, they sneak views through their friends’ scopes.) They are, however, especially useful for the identification of distant waterfowl. A good review of scopes by some birding experts is here: static.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/LivingBird/winter98/scopeswi98.htm. Weight and sturdiness are serious considerations for tripods.
Cameras
On a recent field trip this writer had an unexpected experience. Far off in the middle of the Niagara River was a harlequin duck. He could not make it out with his binoculars, but a young companion showed him the photo of the duck he took with his iPhone. He had simply held the phone up to a telescope and could further enlarge the result with his fingers against the screen. The image was remarkably clear.
Today birding by camera has become common. Birders and nature photographers more generally carry cameras with powerful lenses that provide close-up images for identification and simply appreciation.
As with binoculars and telescopes, the beginner who chooses to turn in this direction is well-advised to visit with experienced photographers before purchasing expensive equipment.
Birding-related Activities
Bird and other Wildlife Rehabilitation
Volunteers for this kind of activity are always deeply appreciated by the many individuals and agencies who perform this service. The Erie County SPCA and Messenger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center are two examples of regional agencies.
Bird Banding
Bird banders are carefully monitored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Agency. Federal permits are required and new banders today must focus on research projects. The Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, near Rochester, offers banding training and opportunities for volunteers.