Bird watching: tips for amateur ornithologists

Bird watching is becoming increasingly popular as a hobby. For anyone who would like to try their hand at ornithology, we have prepared ten tips to help you observe birds.

What has been a major trend among the population in England for decades has also become increasingly important in Germany in recent years: The Bird watching is no longer a purely scientific activity, but an exciting and varied hobby that allows you to spend a lot of time in nature can spend. Whether in your own garden or in the forest and in the fields - there are birds everywhere. And with around 250 species native to Germany, there is a lot to discover. For all bird enthusiasts and those who want to become one, we have put together a number of tips to help you get started in the wonderful world of ornithology.

Tip 1: Start small

A many-voiced bird concert during a morning walk in the forest can be a wonderful experience. However, if you want to hear and distinguish between the individual species, it can be quite a challenge. Such an endeavor can quickly become overwhelming and frustrating, especially for beginners. Therefore, it makes sense to start by concentrating on a few species that are also easy to identify. The birds in your own garden are particularly suitable for this, as these are usually very common and well-known species, such as blue tit, great tit, blackbird, robin, magpie or chaffinch.

Tip 2: The right equipment

In order to observe birds, you basically only need two things: binoculars and a field guide. When buying binoculars, beginners don't have to dig deep into their pockets, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important parameters here are the magnification, which is necessary for a satisfactory Bird watching should be at least 8x, and the lens diameter of at least 40mm should be. Such models can be bought new for between €150 and €200. However, it is always worth keeping an eye out for used items, as binoculars are quite robust and this way you can get a much better model for the same price can. In principle, however, you should always try out binoculars before you buy them to see if you can get along well with them. This is especially true for people who wear glasses.

The standard work for bird identification is still the “Der Kosmos Vogelführer” by Lars Svensson, which with its detailed Illustrations show all important species-specific characteristics and other interesting information about the habitat and distribution of the animals offers.

Tip 3: Prick up your ears

In addition to pure observation, bird calls also make up a large part of ornithology. Because in addition to the numerous visual characteristics, the songs of the birds are also species-specific. And since the animals do not always show themselves openly and can be observed undisturbed, this is often the only way to identify the species. The easiest way to learn bird songs is in combination with the visual impression - so if you can also see the singing bird. However, since this is not always the case, there is also the possibility of learning the voices purely acoustically. There are a large number of CDs and apps with audio recordings of the individual bird sounds. There are now even tools that allow you to record bird calls outdoors and then show you the species associated - such as the free app 'BirdNet'.

It is a good idea to start learning bird calls late in the year, as only a few birds sing during the winter and this is a good start. In the spring, the number of voices increases continuously and you can add new sounds to your repertoire step by step.

Tip 4: Take notes

When birding, it is always good to write down which birds you have seen, when and where. On the one hand, this forces you to take a closer look and identify the animals in their way, and on the other hand, you get a nice overview of which species you have already seen. In addition, the seasonal course of bird activity can be observed in this way and, especially in spring, it can be viewed as little by little migratory birds return from their winter quarters and more and more species can be seen and heard.

Tip 5: Offer food

A very simple way to observe birds in your own garden is to create feeding stations. The animals stay there for a while and you can watch what is happening from a safe distance, even with children. When choosing a feeding place, whether bought fat balls or homemade bird feeder, there are a few things to keep in mind: The food should be protected from moisture to prevent the formation of mold. In addition, feeding stations should be placed out of the reach of cats and designed in such a way that the Birds do not sit in the feed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases via the animals' droppings impede. When it comes to the feed itself, different species have different requirements and it pays to focus on variety.

With our Plantura year-round bird seed for example, you can attract a whole range of garden birds because it contains a variety of fine seeds, oatmeal, raisins and even mealworms. The protein-rich mixture can be offered all year round and, thanks to the addition of feed lime, even supports expectant bird parents during the breeding season.

Tip 6: Learn from the pros

Especially when learning bird calls, it is particularly helpful to learn from an experienced ornithologist at the beginning. This can give tips on which distinctive stanzas you have to pay attention to in order to clearly identify the species. For those who happen to not have such a person in their circle of acquaintances, there are many places ornithological tours by nature conservation organizations such as NABU or LBV, where volunteer experts To hand over knowledge.

Tip 7: Use the twilight

You don't have to be an early riser to go bird watching. Although the most intense birdsong takes place in the morning hours, many songbird species, such as blackbirds, black redstarts or great tits, are also active until dusk. Due to the small range of species, this period is also well suited for beginners to get to know the first bird calls. Once it's completely dark, most songbirds fall silent; but those who persevere longer have the opportunity to meet one or the other nocturnal species - like the warbler, partridge or the occasional owl.

Tip 8: Attach nesting aids

Another way to make bird watching in your own garden more interesting is to offer nesting aids. As with the bird feeder, this can be made into a craft and observation project for the whole family and one Build your own nest box. This gives you the chance to experience the breeding behavior of the animals, from building the nest to rearing the young birds. It should be noted that different species have different requirements for nesting aids.

Tip 9: Plan trips

If you want to look beyond the garden fence at a certain point and get to know new species, you would do well to change your surroundings as well. Rare species in particular often have certain requirements for their location, which can no longer be met in our landscape shaped by humans. These species still find refuge in numerous (bird) sanctuaries and can be observed in their natural habitat.

Tip 10: Be considerate

Despite all the joy of observation, it is of course always important to disturb the birds as little as possible. This is particularly important to note during the breeding season and near nesting sites. Also, nesting aids should not be opened during the year, but should only be cleaned in the late spring. In protected areas, the paths should not be left to chase the animals. There are usually vantage points from which one can observe the birds from a safe distance. This way the animals can go about their business undisturbed and hopefully you can enjoy looking at them for a long time to come.

Anyone who would like to do something good for the birds can also contact us about designing a bird friendly garden to inform.