Welcome back to the Entryway to Birding blog! A couple of weeks ago, I realized that I would soon be approaching my “bird-iversary”—the anniversary of the day that I became a birder! And guess what? That day is today! Yep, I can 100% trace my birding journey back to a single bird walk I took on August 24, 2019—one year ago.
Driven by a desire to get outside and meet new people, I had attended a field trip to Nine Springs, hosted by Madison’s local chapter of the Feminist Bird Club. Not only was I won over by the kindness, generosity, and patience of the group leaders as they showed my untrained eyed how to spot birds, but I saw so many species that I hadn’t even known existed. It was an experience that pulled me out of whatever closet I had been living in and thrust me into a world of natural wonders. I am forever grateful.
A green heron perches on a branch. On my first birding trip to Nine Springs, I saw not one but five of these captivating birds. They won me over instantly and I’m never not happy to see one. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
As I look back on my first year of birding, I’ve realized how much my life has changed—in big ways, small ways, and sometimes imperceptible ways, but all positive ways. It’s really brought home that birding isn’t just about the birds. It’s a hobby that will ripple through your life, leaving little waves of wonder and curiosity in its wake.
This week’s blog reflects on some of the ways that birding can change your world. If you’ve been thinking about a good time to start this hobby, I can guarantee that today is a good day to start.
Are you ready to look at some birds?! Join Caitlyn as she takes us on a virtual birding trip to one of Madison's hidden gems.
Posted by Madison Audubon on Friday, August 21, 2020
Note: If you’d like to get a glimpse of the place where I fell in love with birds, check out this virtual birding field trip to Nine Springs I hosted last Friday morning. I used my scope and my phone camera to digiscope some of the delightful birds I was seeing. Even though this was a Facebook live session, you can still watch it after the fact—a field trip on your own schedule! You’ll see one of the resident osprey in their nest, pied-billed grebes, great blue herons, solitary sandpipers, killdeer, ring-billed gulls, wood ducks, mallards, a few mystery shorebirds, and a surprise last-minute sora!
What unexpected benefits will birding bring you?
1. You’ll learn your city inside and out.
When I began birding, I had already been living in Madison for about six years. In this last year alone, I have explored more parks, more conservation areas, more state wildlife areas, more green spaces, more urban spaces, more nooks and crannies, and more hidden gems than I had in the previous six years combined.
Just discovered this gem yesterday. I would bike near this area all the time on the Military Ridge State Trail, but I only just discovered the nearby walking trails at Goose Lake Conservation Park in Verona. Can you spot the speck that is a distant osprey, perched in a tree? Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Birds will take you places. If you’re searching for them, you’ll have no choice but to explore. And soon you’ll find yourself traversing the county, and the county over, and the county over, enthralled and impressed at what beautiful places Wisconsin has to offer.
Dane County is jam-packed with birding hotspots—just look at all those pins! Screenshot from eBird.org
If you are ever in doubt of where you might go and need inspiration for a new adventure, eBird’s hotspot map is a perfect place to start. Sure, you’ll find birds at these destinations. But maybe you’ll also find a new spot to go kayaking, a new restaurant nearby, a new bike trail to explore, or a new business to support. Birding will get you out in your community and help you develop a sense of place. If, like me, you’re not originally from here … you might find that it starts to truly feel like home.
2. You’ll make new friends—yes, even in a pandemic!
When I first started birding, I was able to take advantage of field trips and bird walks as I developed my skills and I was able to meet a ton of fellow birders in the process—of all backgrounds and skill levels. But if you started birding during the pandemic, you likely haven’t had field trips to get to meet people in the same way that I did. Don’t assume this means that you won’t be able to meet new people and make friends.
Fellow birders and friends on a pre-COVID bird walk. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Madison’s birding community is incredibly active. Dane County is one of the most highly birded counties in the state, purely because we have so many gosh darn good birders here. If you’re out and about at a popular birding destination, chances are you might run into some folks who are also wearing binoculars. Don’t panic! Smile and wave. Birders are curious people and tend to be interested in what other people are seeing. Don’t be surprised if someone asks a variation of the question, “See any good birds out there?” Share a bird you’ve seen, if you can, and slip in a comment about being new to birding. You might get a tip on a nearby cool bird or some general friendly support.
We’re in a strange time right now where many folks aren’t birding together for social distancing reasons, but we’ll still talk on the trails when we see others out and about. Don’t be afraid to make chit chat—comment on how birdy it is or ask what someone is seeing! (On the flip side, don’t be offended if someone doesn’t want to chat. Some folks are out there to bird solo and may not want to talk to strangers. Respect people’s space.)
Slowly but surely, you’ll get to know more names and faces in the birding community, who might soon become friends. If you ever encounter me in the wild, don’t be shy. I’ll have plenty of birding enthusiasm to laud upon you.
3. You’ll develop endless curiosities and never be bored.
Birding is a gateway drug. Soon, you’ll find yourself eyeing digital cameras and wanting to get good at wildlife photography. When birding gets slow in the heat of summer, you’ll find your attention caught by other flying creatures—butterflies, dragonflies, moths. (Did you hear that mothing is the new birding?!) You’ll see interesting plants and flowers while you’re out looking for birds and find yourself itching to identify them too. You’ll want to learn trees, of course, because it’ll make you a better birder. Then you’ll stumble across a snake or a lizard or a cool turtle—and suddenly you’re researching herping.
Photos by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
There was a time when I was afraid of bugs. I didn’t like things to land on me. I didn’t like snakes. I didn’t like anything that could be considered creepy or crawly. But now I’m documenting my “cool finds” and trying to catch neat looking insects. Birding might do that to you.
You will never be at a loss for what to do next. Birding opens you up to a lifetime of learning. It will make you curious about the world around you. It will make you marvel at all that you don’t know, and spur you to learn more.
4. Your mental health will improve.
For years, I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression. When things get hard, I’ve found that birding has been one of the best medications. Even just a few minutes of watching a bird go about it’s day can help pull me from a negative headspace. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a soothing balm for sure.
Maybe it’s how the rest of the world melts away when you’ve got your binoculars aimed on a bird. Maybe it’s the act of focusing—of slowing down to look and listen to the slightest of movements, the slightest of sounds—that shifts one’s perspective. Maybe it’s the spark of joy that a bird sighting can so easily conjure up. Or maybe it’s simply just the fresh air.
It’s different for everyone, but I’m willing to bet that birding will make you feel good. It’s no secret that being out in nature is beneficial for your mental health, and birding can be a good motivator to get outside no matter the season.
This past winter was probably the first winter in my entire life that I’ve spent so many hours outside. I used to “hibernate” inside where it was warm and cozy, then I learned the power of layers and well-insulated boots. I birded daily through the winter—and it kept me going when the shortage of daylight tried to keep me down. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
5. You’ll learn patience and perseverance. You’ll get comfortable with uncertainty. You’ll grow in confidence.
You’ll be endlessly frustrated while trying to ID flycatchers (especially silent ones in poor lighting) until you realize that everyone else struggles with them too. Then you’ll just be in good company. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
Birding isn’t always an easy hobby. It’s challenging, full of chance and unpredictability. It’ll frustrate you. It will put you in situations where you have zero control over anything—you can’t change the lighting, you can’t control the angle the bird is giving you, you can’t move those leaves aside. You may not be able to ID everything you see—or anything you see!—especially if you’re just getting started, and you might feel disappointed in yourself. I know that I did.
But you’ll find that over time, birding will develop your mental fortitude. Those frustrations from your beginning birder days will only frustrate you for so long. And then you’ll find yourself saying, “Eh, it happens. That’s birding for you.” The little things that might have eaten at you before will roll like water off a duck’s back.
And best of all? This perseverance, this mental strength, this confidence you’ve grown? It’ll transfer to other aspects of your life. Birds are good teachers—you’d be surprised at what they might prepare you for.
Birding is a hobby for a lifetime, and it indeed comes with a lifetime of unexpected benefits. If you’ve been telling yourself that you want to make more time for birds, that you want to start birding, that you want to bird more often—don’t wait. Start now. If I were to change anything about my birding journey, it would be to start sooner.
You won’t regret it.
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Caitlyn is the Communications and Outreach Assistant at Madison Audubon. She’s crazy for birds because they changed her life. She’ll be back next Monday with some tips and tools for birders, new and experienced! Between now and then, she’d love to hear about the birds you’re seeing and hearing. Leave a comment below or email to drop her a line!
