Bird is the nerd

I recently went on an amazing hike with my brother in law who is an avid birder and works with the Audubon Society. I have to admit, I’m not someone who has taken a great interest in birding up to this point. What a cool way to spend the afternoon! We found a beautiful riparian area not too far away and set out for the day. In addition to the peaceful and fun nature of a typical hike, the special attention given to listening for the different bird calls and identifying which birds they came from was very cool and an eye opener for me.

Getting started with birding can be an easy and low cost hobby. A bird guide book with birds arranged by color is recommended for beginners. National Parks will often have simple ID cards of the area birds available in the park visitor centers. Additionally the National Parks will often offer guided bird tours or ranger led lecture programs. It’s estimated that over 45 million Americans consider themselves bird watchers.

Our bird count for the hike:

  • 1 Green Heron
  • 1 Cooper’s Hawk
  • 2 Red-tailed Hawk
  • 1 Costa’s Hummingbird
  • 1 Gila Woodpecker
  • 2 Ladder-backed
  • Woodpecker
  • 3 Bridled Titmouse
  • 1 Verdin
  • 3 Canyon Wren
  • 1 Bewick’s Wren
  • 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  • 6 Hermit Thrush
  • 8 American Robin
  • 1 Northern Mockingbird
  • 1 Phainopepla
  • 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • 3 Northern Cardinal

What to bring on your bird hike (these items are not mandatory but they are a good idea):

  • Binoculars
  • A bird guide book to help with identfication
  • Notebook or app for tracking the birds you see
  • Snack & water (of course!)

Always remember to be conscientious on hikes. Pack in pack out. Try not to disturb the environment too much. Stay on trails. Don’t disturb any nests or eggs you might find. And as always, have fun!

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