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Getting Started with Birding - Spring Edition

All good photos: Bill Shaw

In the chat, tell us what you hope to learn today.

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Welcome!

Getting started with birding
How to:

Birding by sight
Using Merlin Bird ID
Using eBird
Birding by ear
Where to go birding

Birds you already know (kids should join now!)
Birds you will know very soon!

Year-long
Spring birds

Resources

Click here to download feedback form

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Getting Started

Use the chat at any point, or jump in with a comment or question.

What you need to get started with birding

Joy of birding...

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Birding By Sight:

See Better With a Nature Journal

Not artistic
Notice details
Write notes
Ask questions

John Muir Laws

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Tech Assist - Install Merlin Bird ID

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Use Merlin Bird ID

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Where To Go Birding:

Your Back Yard!

Choose a Sit spot

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Where To Go Birding:

Your Back Yard!

Provide Food

Water

Shelter

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Where To Go Birding: Your Back Yard!

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Where To Go Birding: Variety of Habitats

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Where To Go Birding: Use eBird Website

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Explore Hotspots

Albemarle County has 157 hotspots

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Checklists

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Tree Swallow Abundance Map - eBird

Non Breeding/Breeding

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Birding By Ear -

(never play in the field)

Merlin Bird ID

Sound ID feature

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Spectrograms

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Birding By Ear - More Tools

(never play in the field)

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Birding By Ear - Three Birds to Know

eBird

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Birds you already know

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Northern Cardinal

State bird (official bird of 7 states, the most of any species). Originally limited to the southeastern US. Expanding North and West for the last 100 years.

Difference in color male/female. Long tail, flicks it up/down.

Birding by ear is the most common bird identification. Harder for beginners.

Sings a lot in the spring, has 24 different songs, two song boxes, one for high sounds one for lower sounds

Prolific breeder, can have 4 clutches

Monogamous, mate for life. Constantly stay in touch with chipping, always near each other. Stories of saving mate’s life.

The distinctive crest reminded American colonists of the ceremonial headdress worn by European bishops and cardinals: hence the name. In the nin19th century, cardinals were often trapped in the South and sold in the North as popular cage birds. Many thousands were shipped to Europe. That practice ended abruptly with passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

Usually monogamous and mate for life, and males will care for females while they are nesting.

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Northern Mockingbird

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American Robin

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Eastern Bluebird Male/Female

Ivy Talk presentation link

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American Crow

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Blue Jay

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Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

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Canada Geese

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Great Blue Heron

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Mourning Dove

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Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Male/Female)

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Common Birds you may know

(come to feeders)

White-breasted Nuthatch

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Carolina Wren

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Carolina Chickadee

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Tufted Titmouse

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House Finch

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Red Bellied Woodpecker

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American Goldfinch

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Migration – Spring arrivals

Indigo Bunting

Scarlet Tanager

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Birdcast Albemarle County May 15, 2022

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Tree Swallow

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Wood Thrush

Photo All About Birds

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Resources Click here for feedback

Piedmont Virginia Bird club web site, bird alert, Facebook group.

All About Birds. Comprehensive resource. Includes Bird ID for computer.

Merlin Bird ID app (pulls data from eBird)

eBird

How to choose binoculars by Audubon or Wirecutter

Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail

Migration radar info: BirdCast and Colorado State Lights Out Alerts

Hawks Lunch and Learn

Chickadee Language and here

Nature Journaling with John Muir Laws https://johnmuirlaws.com/

Learn bird song online ($$)

Seven things you can do to help birds…

Questions? Email me, Caroline Bertrand, cbertrand35@gmail.com