Entryway to Birding
Getting into birding is fun, inspiring, and. . . a bit overwhelming!
In the Entryway to Birding blog series, which ran from March 2020 through March 2021, Caitlyn Schuchhardt eases you into the hobby with stories, ideas, and inspiration. She focuses on getting you started with observing and listening, making it less intimidating, and sharing suggestions for how to do this even during a pandemic. Enjoy!
Full Entryway to Birding blog archive:
Look to the Birds (Mar. 30, 2020): the joy, comfort and wonder of birds.
Bird Your World (Apr. 6, 2020): how a birding can connect you with your larger community.
So You Want to be a Birder (Apr. 13, 2020): starting a hobby that can be intimidating to enter.
Earth Day Birding (Apr. 20, 2020): proposing an Earth Day challenge: find your sit spot.
Many Ways to Bird (Apr. 27, 2020): whenever, wherever - there are lots of ways to bird!
A Beginner’s Guide to Bird ID (May 4, 2020): advice for spotting, identifying, and remembering birds.
Birding with Confidence (May 11, 2020): a pep talk and resources for new birders.
A Beginner’s First Birdathon (May 18, 2020): stories and tips from a staff Birdathon day.
Bird With Me! A Virtual Field Trip at Cherokee Marsh (May 25, 2020): explore the woods with Caitlyn.
A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Birds (June 1, 2020): Where do you go? How do you know to go there? and more.
Learning from #BlackBirdersWeek (June 8, 2020): highlights and reflections after the first Black Birders Week.
Goodbye Spring Migration, Hello Breeding Season! (June 15, 2020): suggestions for how to embrace the change in behaviors in the breeding season.
From New Birder to eBirder: 7 Reasons Why You Should Be on eBird (June 22, 2020): the potential and resources eBird offers you.
A Beginner’s Guide to eBird Mobile (June 29, 2020): submitting eBird checklists is fast, easy, and worthwhile!
Keeping Your Summer Birding Fresh (July 6, 2020): how to have fun birding in summer’s heat and bugs.
Preparing for Fall Migration (It’s Sooner Than You Think!) (July 13, 2020): tips to prepare for early migrants like shorebirds.
A Birder’s Calendar (July 20, 2020): arrivals, departures, breeding, and more—it’s a lot to keep track of! Here’s a guide.
Birds by Bike at Zeloski Marsh (July 27, 2020): a different and fun way to bird!
A Beginner’s Guide to Spotting Scopes (Aug. 3, 2020): advice for if and how to pick out a scope for zoomed in views of birds.
Tips for Tricky Bird ID: Shorebirds Edition! (Aug. 10, 2020): tips and tricks, and side by side photos for identifying shorebirds.
Twitching, Pishing, and Dipping, oh my! Learning the Birding Lingo (Aug. 17, 2020): translating some of the birding jargon.
The Unexpected Benefits of Birding (Aug. 24, 2020): make friends, explore your city, and more side benefits of birding.
Summer Night Birding (Aug. 31, 2020): nighthawks and swifts take center stage!
A Beginner's Guide to Fall Warblers (Sep. 7, 2020): helpful tips for tricky fall plumage.
How to Count Birds (Sep. 14, 2020): it’s simple… unless there are hundreds or thousands!
Slow Birding (Sep. 21, 2020): how to slow down and soak up a birding experience.
Birding Blunders (Sep. 28, 2020): we all make mistakes! Here are some of Caitlyn’s funny blunders, can you relate?
A Beginner's Guide to Birding During Hunting Season (Oct. 5, 2020): safety first!
In Search of Sparrows (Oct. 12, 2020): learning to enjoy the challenge these brown, streaky birds present.
Waterfowl Basics: Get Your Ducks (and Coots, and Grebes) in a Row (Oct. 26, 2020): getting familiar with migrating waterfowl.
A Beginner's Guide to Duck Identification (Nov. 2, 2020): ducks can look all the same at first glance, but here are tips for differentiating.
Get Ready: Winter Finches are Coming! (Nov. 9, 2020): a round-up of great wintery species already arriving.
There’s No Better Time to Join Project FeederWatch (Nov. 16, 2020): join the fun of tracking your feeder birds.
A Beginner's Guide to Rare Birds (Nov. 23, 2020): how to hear about and find rare bird sightings.
Whoooo’s That? Your Winter Guide to Owls (Nov. 30, 2020): everyone’s favorite big-eyed raptor!
Winter Raptors 101 (Dec. 7, 2020): winter is a great time for raptor watching.
A Beginner's Guide to Birding by Car (Dec. 14, 2020): a great alternate way to enjoy birding without complications of winter hiking.
Be a Snow Birder (Dec. 21, 2020): enjoying the benefits of birding outdoors in the winter.
A Birder's Resolutions (Dec. 28, 2020): committing to new adventures and new goals.
A Beginner's Guide to "Big Day" Birding (Jan. 4, 2021): how many birds can you find in one day?
A Winter Walk Through Cherokee North (Jan. 11, 2021): enjoy this beautiful natural area in the winter.
Birding by Ear: Sounds of the Winter Woods (Jan. 18, 2021): getting started with learning songs and calls of birds.
A Clutch of Birdy Podcasts (Jan. 25, 2021): tune in to these podcasts for more learning and birding joy.
Tundra or Trumpeter? Your Guide to Swan ID (plus a special guest feature!) (Feb. 1, 2021): these two species are tough—but not impossible—to tell apart.
Tips for Tricky Bird IDs: Backyard Bird Edition! (Feb. 8, 2021): want to learn more about your backyard birds?
A Birder's Online Toolbox (Feb. 15, 2021): free resources to give your birding an edge.
A Beginner's Guide to Birding Without Binoculars (Mar. 1, 2021): who says you need fancy optics to enjoy birdwatching?
Drumming Up Spring (Mar. 8, 2021): diving into the world of woodpeckers.
Let's Talk Timberdoodles! (Mar. 15, 2021): American Woodcocks are so much fun to learn about, see, and watch.
A Year of Birds and Beginnings (Mar. 29, 2021): A final write-up, closing the series but opening opportunities for growth and birding fun.
Header image by Caitlyn Schuchhardt. An Eastern Bluebird perched in a shrub.
