Newbie to bird watching

scrub

I'm just starting in on paying more attention to birds in my garden, and was wondering whether anyone has suggestions on how to get started.

I have Sibley's field guide for Western North American (I'm in Oregon). Any other recommendations?

I want to be able to not just identify birds by sight, but more importantly to be able to listen to them and know who they are and what they're doing. Learning the natural histories of birds is important to me.

I'm about to check out a couple of natural histories books from the library, and I'm curious about Arthur Bent's classic 20-off volume set of life histories of different birds.

I've started doing a "sit spot" outside a few times a week, just sitting and watching and listening. It's kind of slow going though, trying to figure out what's what, both visually and auditory. Fun though!

Anyone have any pointers on what else to try from here? I guess it's mostly just a matter of time to learn what there is to learn!

newolder

'ello scrub,

Google is a fine search-engine and, if my search string is correct: Oregon, USA, wildlife, birds, birdwatching : then the 146k-hits should be okay...

The first three look very fine:

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/usoregon.htm

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/02/25/ol.eagles.0225.p1.php?section=oregonlife

http://aves.net/the-owl/blnk-usa.htm

Hope this helps? ed. Cool

newolder

Saturday 19th May to Saturday 2nd June 2007

http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/tours/oregon.htm

If i'm in the area (STS-117 permitting) we'll try to pop along ...

Cheers again, ed.

scrub

Hi newolder,

Thanks for the different links! The tour from the UK looks really neat...but expensive! It's nice living here and being able to that tour whenever I want for way cheaper. :)

It's going slowly, but well...the more time I spend outside in the garden and especially the more time I spend just sitting and watching and listening, the more I learn. I've seen three new birds (a flicker, I think a downy woodpecker, and a varied thrush) since I last posted.

I've also been listening to some CDs of bird songs...at this point there are still so many songs that it's hard keeping them all separate in my head! But I'm getting closer to being able to identify songs in my back yard.

And I do have Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls figured out, which is nice.

Fun!
Scrub

newolder

Hi Scrub,

The recent and familiar 'wit-woo!'-owl is hereabouts too. The Cuckoo won't be too long...

STS-117 has been postponed until at least 20[sup]th[/sup] April - the day after a Soyuz launch due to meet ISS a day or so later - so i think i've missed this Spring(?) in Oregon.

Ah well, maybe later.

Cheers again, ed.

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