Young Birder of the Year Contest

Young Birders' Conference

Camps

ABA Scholarships
   - Recipients

Connect!

A Bird's-Eye View

Join ABA

The ABA/Leica Young Birder of The Year Contest Tips

Before you start...

We encourage  you to read excellent article, "Building Birding Skills: Keeping Field Notes" by John Rakestraw, published in the February 1996 issue of Birding.

Winter birding tips

Just because the weather has turned cold is no reason to put away your binoculars for the winter. This is a great time to observe not only birds that you don't see during the rest of the year, but also new behaviors. When we think of where birds go for the winter, the picture that comes to most of our heads is that of warm, lush, tropical areas in Central and South America. For many birds that breed in northern North America, though, heading down to, say, Colorado might be the farthest south they venture. Harsh weather conditions can force these birds to seek out better conditions, and this can bring winter specialties right to your back yard. Keep your eyes peeled for birds including Northern Shrike, Smith's and Lapland Longspurs, and Snow Bunting. If you have open water near you (that is, water that isn't frozen over), go check it out to see what kinds of ducks, loons, and grebes are using your area.
  Birds that stay in the north for the winter have to be prepared. Many people think that the reason birds migrate is because they can't take the cold, but, in fact, food availability is the big factor behind the migration spectacle-if food isn't available, birds won't stick around. The cold is nothing to be reckoned with, though, and birds have evolved special behaviors and characteristics to help them deal with it. Feathers are one of the most important adaptations that birds have. Although we tend to first think of flight when we think of the reasoning behind feathers, they also provide excellent insulation from the elements. If you've ever worn a down jacket or slept in a down sleeping bag, you'll agree; feathers are where it's at. Sometimes during cold weather birds tend to take on a roly-poly appearance. This isn't because they are overweight, but rather because they are trying to stay warm. Air is an excellent insulator, and when birds fluff their feathers, they capture air between them, providing an extra barrier to the cold.
  Members of the families Corvidae (crows, jays, and nutcrackers), Sittidae (nuthatches), and Paridae (titmice and chickadees) have another capability that helps them survive the winters-they cache (pronounced cash), or store, thousands of seeds during times of surplus for use when times are leaner. Birds in these families have incredible memories for keeping track of these cache sites. In one study, the Clark's Nutcracker was shown to hide an average of two pine seeds in each of 1400 to 2000 caches in order to survive the winter and early spring. They are able to remember the locations of these caches for as long as eight or nine months. When I consider how many times I misplace my keys and wallet in just one day, it helps me realize just how amazing is this feat.
  Observing the different birds and behaviors of wintertime is a great way to add unusual species and behaviors to your field journal. It is possible, however, that some days will simply be too cold for birding. Gasp! It's hard to believe, but true. But don't worry; there are things you can do without braving the elements, too. Observing your feeders from inside is a great way to keep track of what species are around, to observe behaviors, and to practice sketching with an up-close view. So bundle up and stay warm, and remember: just because it's winter doesn't mean you have put away those field journals!

- Jennie Duberstein,  A Bird's-Eye View, November/December 2001

Fall birding tips

Fall is again upon us, and migration is beginning. Many of the birds that spent their summers in the United States and Canada are heading south to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central, and even South America. This is one of the most dangerous times of life for a bird; there are obstacles at nearly every step of the way, from natural predators, starvation, and exposure to problems caused by humans, including windows, structures such as microwave towers, and lighted buildings. 
  Take a survey of your area-is it safe for birds, or is it full of danger zones? Rally a group of friends and make a map of your neighborhood. Start by listing all of the safe zones (things that provide food, water, shelter, or space for birds). Then list the danger zones-these might include skyscrapers, highways, development, or pollution. Now it's time to analyze your data.how can you minimize threats to birds in your neighborhood? Start by thinking of simple changes: plant a habitat garden in your back yard or at your school. Set up a bird feeder. Don't let your cat roam outside. Then move on to bigger challenges. Is there a golf course near your house? They can provide important habitat for birds if they are managed correctly. Talk to the course manager. Do you have neighbors who allow their cats to roam outdoors? Give them information about the detrimental effects of domestic cats on bird populations. 
  Participate in Cornell's Project Feederwatch or a similar citizen science project. Find out if there are organizations in your area that are working toward bird conservation and volunteer with them. Keep notes in your field journal about your successes and setbacks. With some effort and a little bit of time, you'll begin to gain a greater understanding of the conservation world, and will be able to make your own important contributions.
  Check out the following web resources for further information:

• www.audubonintl.org (Audubon International: information about creating habitat for birds on golf courses, schools, etc.)
• www.flap.org (Fatal Light Awareness Program; information about the effects of artificial light on nocturnal migrants)
• www.abcbirds.org (American Bird Conservancy; information about the Cats Indoors! campaign)
• www.ornith.cornell.edu (Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; information on Project Feederwatch and other citizen science projects)
• www.americanbirding.org (American Birding Association; order ABA's Opportunities for Birders catalog)

- Jennie Duberstein, A Bird's-Eye View, September/October 2001

Summer birding tips

Birds have many special adaptations, but one of the most unique is flight. In order to fly, birds have evolved a number of different characteristics, including, among other things, feathers and lightweight bones. In addition to these features, a bird's wing also has a lot to do with how it flies. Narrow, tapered wings, for instance, perform much differently than short, rounded wings, and the flight styles of birds differ accordingly.
  But no matter what its wing shape, how DOES a bird fly? Simply explained, in order to fly, four forces need to be in balance: weight, lift, drag, and thrust. Weight refers to the weight of the bird, or the downward force of gravity. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, however, and the weight created by gravity is counteracted by lift created by the flow of air over the wing. One way to decrease lift is to tuck the wings into the body. Picture a falcon in a stoop after another bird-are its wings spread wide, or tucked back aerodynamically to maximize downward speed? Drag, created by friction as the bird moves forward through the air, is kept in check by thrust-created by the downbeat of the wings. The angle of attack, or orientation of a wing in an air current, can increase or decrease the amount of lift that is being generated. Increasing the angle of attack will cause a bird to slow down, or even stop. Watch a bird coming in for a landing sometime. They will tilt the trailing edge of their wing downward, increasing the angle of attack and breaking the airflow over the surface of the wing, slowing them down enough to come in for a landing. Pilots use this same technique when landing their planes.
  The physics of flight are complex, but wing shape and size have a lot to do with how a bird flies, and these flight patterns can be useful in identifying birds in the field. Flight styles are directly related to the bird's habitat and niche (the role that the bird plays in its habitat). A Wandering Albatross, for instance, spends a lot of time soaring. Because of this, it has long, narrow wings, excellent for gliding in high winds. The Scaled Quail has short, rounded wings, which allow explosive takeoffs and maneuverability. The broad, thick wings of the Red-tailed Hawk are perfect for soaring over fields and taking advantage of thermals, while the narrow, pointed wings of the Prairie Falcon give it the speed and agility necessary to hunt its prey in open habitat.
  Observe different kinds of birds, and take note of the habitat, the bird's flight behavior, and wing shape and size. Does the way they are flying make sense to you? Why or why not? Try observing birds during windy and calm weather-what differences do you see? Compare the differences between the up-and-down undulating flight style of a woodpecker (why do you think it flies this way?) and the straight-line approach of a Mourning Dove. What about their behavior and wing shape makes them fly the way they do? Even with just one day in the field, you should be able to notice a wide range of different flight styles.

- Jennie Duberstein, A Bird's-Eye View, July/August 2001

Early Summer birding tips

WILL. No, I don't mean "will", as in, "Will you go birding with me tomorrow?" I mean WILL, as in the American Ornithologist's Union four-letter code for Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus). If you keep a field journal, your notebook is probably full of chicken-scratch notes about the birds that you've seen. After all, who wants to write out "Northern Rough-winged Swallow" every time this bird flies by? On one hand, abbreviations are a fantastic way to save space and time. But making up your own abbreviations can lead to problems in the future. You either have to take painstaking time to document each abbreviation in a glossary so you remember what each one stands for, or else you're left with pages full of information that doesn't mean anything. Even if YOU can remember what you meant, someone else looking at your field notes might have a difficult time deciphering them. But, wait, oh ye code inventors, and never fear. There is an answer.
  If you've ever worked at a bird banding station, you've probably come across AOU four-letter codes. They are a great tool to use in your field notebook, as a sort of shorthand for writing down your observations. And since the codes are standardized, once you learn them, anyone can look at your notebook and know which birds you saw. How do they work? The standard rule is this: four-letter codes are usually formed by taking the first two letters of the first part of a bird's name and the first two letters of the last part of their name. For example:
AMerican RObin=AMRO
  This isn't always the rule, though. Willet, for example, has a one-word name, so the code is formed by taking the first four letters of that word (WILL). Black-capped Chickadee, with a three-word name, is BCCH. For other birds, taking the first two letters of the first word and the first two letters of the second word isn't specific enough. Take Herring Gull and Heerman's Gull, for instance. Following this rule, they'd both be HEGU. So what is the solution? Neither one gets to be HEGU. Herring Gull is HERG, and Heerman's Gull is HEEG. Another example of this is the Yellow Warbler. Common sense would call it YEWA, but if you wrote this, how would you be able to distinguish between it and the Yellow Wagtail? Yellow Warbler becomes YWAR, and the wagtail is YWAG. Most four-letter codes follow the standard rule, though, and are fairly easy to commit to memory. I keep a copy of them in the front of my field journal, for easy reference.
  Check out the following web site for a standardized list of AOU four-letter codes: Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/manual.htm 

- Jennie Duberstein, A Bird's-Eye View, May/June 2001

Spring birding tips

By this time of year, most spring migrants have returned from their wintering grounds and are beginning the breeding process. If you've been keeping track of arrivals and departures in your field journal, see if you notice any patterns. Which species of birds were the first to return? Did males or females seem to come back first? How about adults or juveniles? Why do you think that is so? If you haven't been keeping track, now is a great time to start noticing what's going on around you and to begin keeping notes.
   Attracting a mate is hard work, and birds have evolved a number of different ways to do so. Some species, like the Red-winged Blackbird, have brightly-colored feathers that they display prominently during courtship. Others, like the Whooping Crane, have elaborate dances. The male Common Tern brings food to the female whose attention he is trying to win. In addition to providing the female tern with needed food, this may demonstrate her potential mate's prowess at hunting. Bald Eagles have spectacular courtship displays that consist of an aerial "dance" in which the pair locks talons and tumbles through the air. Lark Buntings have an interesting display called "skylarking". In this display, the male Lark Bunting flies straight up into the air, pauses for a moment at the apex of its flight, and then slowly floats back to the ground with outstretched wings, singing.
   What display behaviors do you see around you? Make sure to keep track of things like date, location, time of day, and any external factors that might influence a bird's behavior. For instance, did a cat walk by in the middle of your observation? Did another bird come into the picture? Was it of the same or of a different species? Grab your field notebook, bins, and field guide and head to a local park, nature area, or maybe just to your back yard, and check out the action!

- Jennie Duberstein, A Bird's-Eye View, March/April 2001

Late winter birding tips

This time of year marks the beginning of the return of migrants from the south, and the beginning of the departure of species that may have wintered in your area. Get your field journal ready for some serious observations, because now is the perfect time of year! What species of birds do you see in your area that you consider "winter" birds. How about "spring" birds? Make two lists. Over the next month or two, note the dates on which you see these species. Especially try to note the last day of the season you see a "winter" bird and the first day of the season you see a "spring" bird. Besides time of year, other factors can affect when a bird arrives at or departs from a particular area, including weather patterns, temperature, and food availability. Keeping detailed notes on all of these variables, especially over time, may help you to predict arrivals and departures of different species in the future. Your field journal will quickly fill with observations and notes about these migratory marvels, and as you spend more time in the field, you will find yourself gaining a greater understanding of how and when different birds use the habitat around your home. 

- Jennie Duberstein, A Bird's-Eye View, January/February 2001