Pet Talk with Vicki Davis

Bird Watching
by Tara Kimball

When bird watching, you need to know what you are looking at. First off, remember how big or small the bird is. Hummingbirds are small and delicate, while crows are much bigger. What color(s) is the bird? Is it all one color or does it have many different colors? How about markings? Does it have stripes, circles, or is it a solid color? Now we need to look at the shape of the birds body parts. How long or short is the beak? How about the tail? Of course we also need to remember what sounds the bird makes.

When looking at birds, take some time to look at what the bird is doing or what actions they are partaking in. What type of movements are they doing with their heads or tails? Does it spend most of its time in the air or on the ground? Look to see if it jumps or hops around, or if the bird actually walks while on the ground. When it is flying, how does it use its wings? Is it fluttering the wings constantly or does it move them only once and awhile?

When you are writing in your bird watching journal, make sure to record when and where you saw the bird. Some birds will live in your area all year round, but some of the birds you may see in certain seasons may not be there in other seasons due to migrating.

Remember:

Just to recap, when watching birds you need to follow these tips.

1. Record the birds size. Compare it to other birds.

2. Look for colors and write down how many different colors you can find. Also look for markings.

3. Fiqure out what type of shape the bird has.

4. Listen to the different sounds the bird makes.

5. Next, note any mannerisms and actions while watching the bird.

6. Last, make sure to keep track of the bird by writing down where and when you saw it.