They won't hold still

[AbbyR]

OK, I know this is going to sound remarkably stupid, but I'm new a this, just graduating from watching birds in my yard to trying to REALLY watch birds, so...

Today I took my binoculars to work with me, intending to stop on the way to look at some of the 5-7 hawks I see every day on my trip. I stopped three times, and each time, as I drove up, the very contented hawk flew off, and I couldn't get a good look. I suppose I was scaring them off.

Any idea on how I can avoid this? My life list is going to say Carolina chickadee. tufted titmous, cardinal, white throated sparrow and goldfinch forever if I don't learn how to get the birds sited quickly and stop scaring them off.

There are some cool herons on my trip, too, but they are on the ground and I know they'd run off. I think the birds hate me....

Thanks...Abby in Arkansas

[Dave B Smith]

Abby,
Birdwatching from a car is pretty easy (assuming there are safe places to stop on the roadside) once you get an idea of what the bird's comfort zone is. I'd suggest you stop the car a greater distance from the bird and get the best look you can from there. Then if it doesn't fly, try driving a little closer and looking again. Eventually you'll get a good idea of how close you can approach different species before they'll fly off.

Also, when you have more time, just park in a good "birdy" area and use your car as a blind. It won't take too long before the birds just ignore you and come closer.

Good luck and let us know how you get on. I'm sure some others will offer lots more tips.

[icansprint]

Hi Abby,

I also am a new birder. In my limited experence I've found that birds do not like anything moving fast. I've had much better luck moving slow and not looking directly at them. My life list would be about the same size as yours if I had to ID them in the field. I use a long lens, shoot now and ID later.

Bill

[deboo]

Hello Abby,
If i had Carolina Chickadee, Cardinal and White Throated Sparrow on my list.....I'd be as pleased as a very pleased person feeling pleased.
Cheers Dave

[AbbyR]

Hello Abby,
If i had Carolina Chickadee, Cardinal and White Throated Sparrow on my list.....I'd be as pleased as a very pleased person feeling pleased.
Cheers Dave

The only reason I have those is because they are my regular feeder visitors. I think they live in the trees around my yard...I live on the edge of woods.

Abby

[deboo]

Hello Abby,
Our regular feeder visitors are....House Sparrow, Starling,
Blue Tit and Great Tit.....but have had a Cockateel recently, though it was an escapee!
My most recent addition to my life list was Dartford Warbler.......quite a rarity in our neck of the woods.
How's the weather in Arkansas?
Cheers Dave.

[AbbyR]

Hello Abby,
Our regular feeder visitors are....House Sparrow, Starling,
Blue Tit and Great Tit.....but have had a Cockateel recently, though it was an escapee!
My most recent addition to my life list was Dartford Warbler.......quite a rarity in our neck of the woods.
How's the weather in Arkansas?
Cheers Dave.

Supposed to be about 60 F. today. Doesn't feel like Christmas. But it beats the ice storms that we are prone to...when I stay home, pray that the electricity stays on, and watch LOTS of birds come to the feeder.

Abby

[deboo]

We're promised some snow for early next week...
hopefully it may entice a Bittern out into the open.
As regards identifying distant birds...approach them slowly, wear drab clothing and be quiet...it works for me....I'm extremely slow, drab and quiet!!!
"Wait and see" seems a good expression, especially if you want to see a Bittern!
Dave

[cuddy]

Hi Abby, it is a learning curve but fieldcraft is all important so you can get good sightings of birds.

Clothing is important, not bright, soft so as to make no noise, using cover, and above all learning about your subjects habits will all bring rewards, and above all patience.

Hope you get to see your Hawks and Herons and when you suceed tell us all about it.

Good luck, Cuddy.

[peachfront]

A couple of thoughts that spring to mind --

Make sure your binoculars are good ones. I saw a newbie once with "opera glasses" -- no wonder she couldn't get detail on the birds.

Park a bit further back than you think you need to. Study what you can from that distance. Then pull up a little. Sometimes hawks, especially Red-Tails on telephone poles, will let you get right under them if you are patient and go slow.

Don't assume you can't get good looks at your herons. Great Blue Heron sometimes stands right by the road and gives you a great look. So does Great Egret. At least they do in Louisiana, and I doubt it's any different in Arkansas.

If I was completely brand new to raptors in Arkansas, I would start by reviewing the field marks for perched and flying Red-Tailed Hawks. Check for the white V on the back, the "belly band" in front for perched birds, keeping in mind that not all Red-Tails have the red tail. Also look in your field guide and learn what the "patagial marks" are on the underside of the wings to ID flying birds. With these clues, you will be able to ID a great many of the hawks you see perched roadside as Red-Tails. The second buteo I would learn would be Red-Shouldered Hawk.

Here's hoping it helps.



OK, I know this is going to sound remarkably stupid, but I'm new a this, just graduating from watching birds in my yard to trying to REALLY watch birds, so...

Today I took my binoculars to work with me, intending to stop on the way to look at some of the 5-7 hawks I see every day on my trip. I stopped three times, and each time, as I drove up, the very contented hawk flew off, and I couldn't get a good look. I suppose I was scaring them off.

Any idea on how I can avoid this? My life list is going to say Carolina chickadee. tufted titmous, cardinal, white throated sparrow and goldfinch forever if I don't learn how to get the birds sited quickly and stop scaring them off.

There are some cool herons on my trip, too, but they are on the ground and I know they'd run off. I think the birds hate me....

Thanks...Abby in Arkansas