Birdwatching is not just a fun activity to get you out of the house and into nature; it’s also a learning process. If you hope to see the birds you want to find, you’ll need to learn all you can about the sounds they make, how they look, and the habitats they like best. Journaling your experience is part of the process.
Using a Journal
There are numerous types of journals that you can use to record what you see and hear during your birdwatching journey. You can even buy specialized birdwatching journals that have sections in them for different things like dates, common characteristics, and so forth. But you can also use a spiral notebook with removal pages just as well.
The key to using your journal is that it’s the right size for you to bring with you and easily take out when you need to note something. Using a spiral notebook that enables you to put new pages in it and take out pages helps you overcome issues with making mistakes if you want to keep your notebook neat.
Types of Information to Record
When you keep a journal, it’s essential to know what you want to record before you set it up. If you buy a premade journal, this will give you more information to look for –otherwise you can set it up how you want.
- Species Name – If you don’t know, you can describe the bird as best as you can in your own words.
- Habitat – Where did you see it? What type of habitat was around it?
- Weather – What is the weather right now? That can give you clues about when to see the same bird on another day.
- Date and Time – This is also useful info, so you know when this species lets itself be seen.
- Appearance – Describe everything you can and if you’re able, sketch a picture of the bird.
- Behavior – Describe the movements and how the bird acts.
- Sounds – Describe the vocalizations the bird makes as precisely as possible.
- Flock Size – How many others did you see?
Learn Shorthand
One issue with noting what you’re observing and recording, is time. You’re only going to get to watch the bird for seconds before you need to start recording because of memory. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t fill in all the spots each time. Use abbreviations and shorthand to save space. Over time you’ll learn something new about each bird species during each sighting.
Review Your Journal Regularly
One thing that you’ll want to do is review your journal on a regular basis. The notes you’re talking aren’t just for memory; they’re so that you can learn from what you experience. When you read the journal, you’ll be reminded of the experience, and it’ll help you learn to identify the birds by sound and sight better.
Recording what you see and hear when birdwatching is part of the fun. You will learn to identify birds by sound and sight, and you’ll get faster at it the more you do it. Keep recording and reviewing and before you know it, you’ll be an expert.
