Bird Books, Binoculars, and Basics

BIRD BOOKS, BINOCULARS, AND BASICS

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 (Napanee Beaver)

Friday, December 14, 2007 (Picton Gazette)

Birders in the area are anxiously awaiting to see if the recent appearance of pine grosbeaks at bird feeders is a sign of even more exciting things to come. One of the challenges to new birders, is recognizing these winter tourists, as we don’t often see them in these parts. Field guides are useful, in this respect.

One of the most useful references I recommend newcomers to the ranks of the birding fraternity to obtain is not necessarily a field guide, but a checklist of local birds to be found in the Quinte area. Once newcomers have a handle on exactly what is to be expected in the Quinte area out of the 10,000 species that occur in the world, they can eliminate the embarrassment of telling more experienced birders that they have just identified a flock of golden-cheeked warblers which don’t occur in Ontario. Nothing is more frustrating after trying to explain to a caller who has just claimed to have seen a passenger pigeon, extinct since 1914, than to hear, “Well, we have one in our backyard now!”

Even when one narrows the number of birds expected to occur in the Quinte area to a respectable 340 species, the identification game is still a struggle, especially given that males and females of many species are not alike, and the juvenile plumage and confusing fall apparel that many species don during migration adds even further to the frustration. Then, there are those like eagles, gulls, pine grosbeaks and numerous others that may go through several years of plumage changes before acquiring their adult plumage.

While birding is often regarded as a passive and relaxing pastime, truth is, it is a hobby that takes many years of observing before one acquires enough confidence to rattle off the names of birds seen in flight, calling from thickets, or presenting themselves as only silhouettes in the sky. However, there are tricks to the trade which allow new observers to become more proficient in the identity of those birds they see in the field or in their backyard.

A bird identification course which has been presented by Quinte Conservation now for seven years, and which I have had the pleasure instructing, teaches people in just six sessions everything you need to know to pin an identity on those birds we see, even if it is in the binoculars for a mere three seconds. We look at binoculars and field guides – there is a plethora of them out there (which one is best?) and guides to bird songs, interactive computer software and numerous other recent innovations in the world of bird identity.

The course begins January 28th, and continues every Tuesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., for six weeks, and gently guides newcomers through the procedure of separating birds into families to facilitate identity. The course will go through the majority of bird families to be found in Ontario, and will look at what features to zero in on during those precious few seconds we have when a new discovery suddenly appears in the binoculars.

Bird identity can be a frustrating exercise when birds are flitting everywhere. But through the course we will look at other methods of identification when a bird doesn’t always co-operate, such as call notes, habits, habitat preferences, and time of the year, and learning to identify simply by having a basic knowledge of bird habits.

The course will be taking place at Quinte Conservation, located on the west side of Belleville, at the corner of Highway 2 and Wallbridge/Loyalist Road (Civic address # 2061). Cost is only $75 for the entire six weeks, and also includes hand-out materials, and a complementary hike in the spring to practice your new skills. Assisting us in the process will be computer PowerPoint presentations and videos from renowned filmakers John & Janet Foster of the Tweed area.

We will also look at the anatomy of a bird and learn to be comfortable with the various terms used to describe the bird. When you leave this course, you will have a much better handle on identifying those warblers that skulk about in the emerging spring foliage, the invisible residents of the cattail marsh that call nightly, and those mysterious calls emanating from thickets, and learn some cool tricks to eliminate unlikely birds from the list of possible suspects.

Bird identification is nothing more than a process of elimination and after six weeks you will be far more proficient at the craft. To participate in such a course is a rare opportunity as so few such interactive opportunities exist in the Quinte area where newcomers to the ranks of the birdwatching fraternity can work together in learning the ropes of bird identity. Participation is restricted to the first 20 people who register, as this course is very popular. Those interested are urged to call Quinte Conservation at 613-968-3434 (111) without delay to reserve your spot. You can call that number any time day or night, leave a message if necessary, and I will return your call promptly. Napanee areas residents can call 613-354-3312 (111). You can also reserve by calling my home number at 613-476-5072, or by e-mailing tsprague@kos.net . Would make a nice Christmas present!

And, oh, yes – I will be sure that you get a checklist.

This week’s column was prepared on behalf of Quinte Conservation