Plan a Bird Watching Trip

Many people consider bird watching to be one of the most interesting hobbies in the entire world. Unlike other hobbies which can be costly and time consuming, one has complete control over the cost and the time when bird watching. Then there is the consideration that this hobby is far from seasonal to say the least. Birds are active all year round in most cases, and the wintertime in many areas may actually be a better time to spot some fine specimens. Another draw for this wonderful hobby is the fact that it is non-destructive. Bird watching means observation and there is no real interaction with the animals themselves. Preserving the environment and nature is a key component of bird watching, which allows future generations to enjoy the hobby as you are now.

Part of the bird watching experience is planning the trips. There are two different schools of thought on planning of the trips, both of which seem reasonable. The first thought is the thoroughly planned, up to the minute escapade, where every little detail has been thought of and nothing is left to chance. This is admirable, but sadly, Murphy’s Law does apply in most cases, where something can and will go wrong no matter how much you plan. The simple fact is that many people like to plan to try to cut off the unforeseen circumstances at the pass. For this kind of bird watching trip, you need to take into consideration several things.

The first thing is the location that you wish to bird watch. The general rule is that the heavily wooded areas are the best for bird watching as they provide the most cover and security for the birds as they hunt for food and build their nests. Most states have areas that are wooded somewhere, even around the largest cities. The main fact that you need to be concerned with is the property owners. While there is no destruction of property when it comes to bird watching, some people just do not like people on their land. For this reason, you should always obtain written permission from the landowner to be on the property. Verbal permission is great but with that you have no proof and should you be questioned it is best to have something to show. Make sure that the owner puts the contact information on the permission letter so he/she can be contacted if necessary for verification.

Of course, you will need to think about the equipment as well. Remember that you will be carrying everything that you bring with you. This may not seem like much when you are still in the car, but once you arrive and are walking to the spot you may think different. Travel as light as possible if the area where you are bird watching is a fair walk from the parking area. You want to be able to enjoy yourself as much as possible and extreme fatigue will cut a trip short.

The other school of thought is the simple impromptu trip where you go to a park or other area and just start the watching. This can make for some added excitement and may be more productive in the end.