Where to Observe Birds

When to find birds. A good time to begin the study of birds is in the late winter or early spring. The number of birds seen at this time is compara­tively small, and it is not so confusing to the beginner as it is later when the birds are numerous. By start­ing at this time one may learn a few birds at a time and keep increasing the number as the later mi­grants arrive. Another advantage in beginning at this time is that the birds can easily be seen, because there is no foliage to conceal them. Later in the season, when the leaves have developed, it is much more difficult to see them.

The spring is the most interesting season to study birds. It is the season of bird song and of nesting, and birds render themselves very conspicuous at this time. Later, when home duties begin, there is less singing and birds are more wary about exposing themselves. June, when the nesting-season is at its height, is also an interesting month for bird-study. During the late summer, birds are moulting, and re­main quiet and concealed, so that it is a discouraging season for bird-study. Then during the fall follows a more active period when the fall migration is un­der way. During the winter there is opportunity to study at close hand the winter birds that may be attracted by food.

The best time of the day to study birds is in the early morning up to about nine o'clock, as this is the time when birds are most active and do most of their singing. The next best time is in the late after­noon.

How to study birds. In order that one may be most successful in finding birds, a few precautions need to be observed. Loud noises should be avoided, as should quick, sudden movements. It is well sometimes to seat one's self in one place and remain quiet for some time, to find the birds that may be seen in that one locality. Birds may be attracted by making a sort of squeak, which is made by kissing the back of the hand vigorously. This will often bring out birds whose presence had not been sus­pected.

Every season of the year has something new in the line of bird activities, so that there is a constant variety of interesting things to attract one's atten­tion.

What to study. Beginning in the early spring­time and continuing till the last of May, one may keep a record of the spring migration. In its sim­plest form this may consist of two columns giving the name of the bird and the date when first seen. To this may be added as many more points as one wishes, such as place where seen, number, etc. These records may be kept in the following tabular form:­

It is interesting to spend all of a day or a part of a day during May in the field, to see how many birds one can find in a day. This is the season when one can find the greatest number in the northern United States, as it may include permanent and summer residents and transient visitants.

Songs. Shortly after birds arrive in the spring, they are in full song, and this bird music forms one of the most attractive features for study. Some of the things that may be noted are the time of day when the song is given, length of singing-season, character of song, its variety, pitch, quality, location of bird when given, and whether given on the wing. Some brief description of the song written in a notebook will help fix it more firmly in the mind. An­other interesting study is to begin just before sun­rise some morning in May, and note the order in which the different birds begin to sing, and the order in which they leave off as the day progresses. Like­wise the order of beginning and stopping in the late afternoon.

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