For the beginning birder
Want to become a bird watcher (birder)?
Start by observing birds in your backyard or a park you visit often. They are the birds you will see over and over. Just watch what they are doing, then later take notice of their size, colors, how they stand and how they fly. Soon you will be able to remember their details long enough to look them up in a field guide.
Did you know that bird watchers are generally more observant than the average person? To distinguish among the many species of birds found in the area, birders must quickly process information on overall size and shape (silhouette), color patterns, call notes, shapes of bills, shape of wings, how it moves through a bush or tree, how it flies, and more. And all this has to be processed before the bird flies away!
Where to see birds?
Start in your backyard! If you can put up a birdfeeder, there are great opportunities for watching from your living room or kitchen.
Most birds appreciate clean water for drinking and bathing. Standing water attracts mosquitoes so clean your water bath.
Go to a nature park in Frankfort.
Fish and Wildlife Headquarters On the west site of Frankfort off Highway 60, at #1 Sportsman’s Lane. Two lakes provide home for nesting Canada Geese, with goslings in early May and wintering waterfowl. In summer look for Baltimore Orioles and their woven nests. Maps and programs are available at https://fw.ky.gov/Education/Pages/Plan-Your-Visit.aspx
Cove Springs Park. Located on Cove Spring road north on 127 just past 421. On the west side of 127, the boardwalk winds through the wetland and to a pond with kingfisher, wintering sparrows, herons and wood ducks. On the east side of 127, the Cove Spring spur trail offers best chances at migrant warblers. The park offers many family programs. See https://www.frankfortparksandrec.com/Parks/Cove_Spring/cove_spring.html
Some Common Birds around Frankfort
Northern Cardinal. Not all cardinals are from Louisville! This bright red bird is often found at feeders and homes.
House Sparrow. This introduced bird often visits feeders
Turkey Vulture. Often seen soaring over the hills and bluffs downtown, the black vulture can be told from the turkey vulture by its flatter profile and white wing tips.
Blue Jay. This beautiful blue and noisy bird, often dominates other birds around the feeders.
Northern Mockingbird. This noisy songster imitates other birds and may sign all night!
Baltimore Oriole. This bright orange songster, weaves hanging nests.
American Crow. The ‘caw-caw’ can be heard for a long ways! A group of crows is called a murder!
American Robin. Watch for this bird puling up worms on your lawn. it is one of the early spring nesters.
Pictures from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net http://www.weforanimals.com/galleries/birds%20gallery/bird%20pictures-1.htm
http://www.canstockphoto.com/images-photos/sparrow.html
http://www.canstockphoto.com/images-photos/warbler.html
Safe observation tips The safety of the birds is most important!
o Keep your distance. Surprising a bird may scare it off, as will loud noises, white clothing, and shiny metal objects. Getting too close to a nest can cause a parent to abandon the nest. Birding from a car can be productive as the car serves as a kind of blind.
o Pay attention to where you are walking. Remember that you are visiting the bird’s habitat, so be careful to not destroy it.
o Do not touch an injured or baby bird bird – you can injure the bird more and possibly injure yourself too.
o Bird houses and feeders attract more than birds. They can also attract predators and diseases. Keep houses and feeders disease-free by cleaning them regularly.
Estimating bird size. It helps to know the size of common birds, and then to compare the bird you are seeing with the common bird.
So now you can reference bird sizes by “larger than a crow” or “smaller than a sparrow.”
Warbler or Sparrow? Many beginning birders see a little bird darting around and are unsure if it is a warbler or sparrow.
Warbler
Most live in trees (some exceptions)
Brighter plumage (yellow, green or blue), duller in fall
Short pointed bills
Mainly solitary (never single-species flocks) but are found in mixed species flocks during migration (particularly spring)
Eat small insects from leaves & twigs, some berries & nectar.
Sparrow
Live in grassy & brushy areas
Streaked brownish plumage
Short conical bills
Many species flock in winter
Many forage on ground kicking both feet back simultaneously; eat insects & larvae in summer; seeds in winter.
Yellow Warbler
Field Sparrow
Watching the behavior of birds. Just as knowing the name of a friend is a first step in friendship, learning where the bird lives and how it acts makes watching the common birds more interesting.
Behavior can be categorized into social behavior or making a living day- to-day. Since birds don’t use Facebook, they must use action to exhibit courtship, territories, breeding, and flocks. In their daily life they are also preening, feeding, and bathing.
The following link provides behavior traits of some common birds around Frankfort. This will help you identify birds by the way they act.
More Resources
o Excellent short videos on how to begin birding: All About Birds produced by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/page.aspx?pid=1270 All four episodes are quick and easy.
o Check out this Bird Watching website for more birding tips: http://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/