Bird-watching tips from a local pro

Bird watching is an activity that most anyone can become interested in.

Diane Porter of Birdwatching Dot Com out of Fairfield has been bird-watching for 50 years said it can be as challenging or relaxing as someone wants to make it.

Birding is an activity that can be very fun alone or in a group.

There are some individuals who start by just noticing birds in their yard.

'As soon as they get to the point where they're saying, that's a cardinal, that's a goldfinch, it's not that hard to get into bird-watching,' Porter said.

Porter said people can also learn about birding from a birder or from the internet and books.

Learning from a birder can be very helpful because the first time can be very overwhelming, but the birder can help point out birds and the different species, Porter said.

A few internet resources Porter recommended was the Iowa Ornithologist Union at iowabirds.org and a Facebook group called Iowa Birding.

There are three items Porter recommends for people to have for birding: Binoculars, a field guide and a hat.

A good pair of binoculars can cost $100 but prices heavily vary. Porter recommended getting a good pair, around the $100 range instead of a cheap pair which might ruin the experience.

Those interested can purchase a field guide, but Porter said there are different apps that are easy to use and not very expensive.

Merlin Bird ID is a free app that can help individuals identify birds. Users can also download different regions to get more specific species.

Sibley Birds is another app for $19.99 that offers different artwork, apps and monthly bird statuses.

The last item Porter said birders should have is a hat to protect from the sun. Other protective gear is helpful such as insect spray or boots to protect from chiggers.

Porter said overall, bird-watching is a pretty small investment for those interested.

People can either bird watch from where they are, or travel to see a variety of different birds.

Places such as Lake Darling and Cone Marsh State Wildlife Management Area are two good places to see birds, Porter said. Other natural areas with insets, plants, trees, water, grass or even beaches are also good places to see birds. Every place has it's unique collection of birds.

Porter said her website's motto is 'Bird-watching is your lifetime ticket to the theater of nature.'

Once someone becomes invested in bird-watching, it is a gateway into other interests such as protecting habitats, identifying different plants and trees and overall helping the planet.

Bird-watching is an activity that can be done year-round. Iowa is a great place to bird watch because it is a flyway where birds migrate through, Porter said.

Porter said spring and fall can be the most exciting times because there are a variety of different species passing through.

During the spring, there are over 30 different species of warblers in Iowa and can have spectacular colors.

In the fall, the birds are migrating and there may be many more birds. Porter said in the spring, two birds many have gone north, but six could come back because of mating.

During the winter, it is very easy to bird watch because there aren't leaves to obstruct the view and people can put feeders right outside their window, allowing a closer look at the birds.

Porter said when starting, she recommends keeping track of the birds you've seen and make a list. That way, a person can look back and say 'I've seen 20 different species of birds in my own backyard.'

Whether its in a backyard or at a park, bird-watching is an activity that is easy and accessible for those interest in finding a new hobby.