Know thine enemyThe more you know about birds, the more likely you are to not only see them, but to understand what you’re seeing. "A little round grey/brown thing" is a long way from "Tasmanian Thornbill, male, giving breeding display".
And, as any twitcher knows, it’s all about ticking them off the list, right? Well, you can’t do that unless you have a positive identification. Get a good field guide (there are books and apps aplenty, even some that include recordings of the birds’ calls) and start studying.
Location, location, locationGo where the birds are.
Sounds simplisitic, but think about it. Different birds inhabit different regions and different habitats, and some ecosystems have very few birds. If there’s a particular type of bird you want to see, you have to go to the right place at the right time. If you merely want to see a lot of different birds, chose areas that have just that; wetlands, for instance, harbour many different species, as do most forests. Grasslands are wonderful for both raptors and small species like finches, emu wrens, fairy wrens and the like.
Softly, softly catchee monkeyBirds are nervous critters. They have few defences from predators other than their incessant awareness, so you have to be
careful to avoid disturbing them or you’ll be lucky to see more than a rare fleeting flutter. Move smoothly and quietly as possible. Stop and wait in likely spots and see who comes to check you out — many small birds are also inveterately curious and will turn up to inspect any new addition to their territory.
You'll never walk alone…then you’ll never see as many birds as you should. It’s hard enough for one person to move around without disturbing resident fauna. The more people in the party there are - no matter how cautious - the more disturbance there will be, so the birdwatcher will often be better off solo.
Be alert, not alarmedKeep aware at all times. Don’t look for anything in particular but keep eyes and ears and mind open to all movement. A lot of things drop from trees to the ground, but something that goes up, or across when there’s no breeze, is probably alive. When you see that flicker of movement in the corner of your eye, once again it’s time to stop, wait and watch.
Patience, young padawanLike everything worthwhile, it takes time to learn and practice until the processes are automatic. And some days, no matter how much time you give it, the birds aren’t going to co-operate. They’re not here for your pleasure, but have their own lives to get on with. Learn to live with that.
Bushwalk
