Get Started Bird Watching With This Free App
Now that we’ve started doing slower, low-tech pursuits like puzzle games, knitting, and handicrafts, this might also be a good time to start bird watching. This is something that you can do on your own in nature or from the comfort of your own home (or even on the fire escape). If you’re a veteran birdwatching pro, you probably know what you’re looking for when it comes to winged creatures. But if you’re new to the hobby, it can be difficult to figure out where and how to start. Do you just grab your binoculars and head to the park? How do you know which birds are found? Whether you are new or experienced in the art of birdwatching, eBird can probably help – and it’s free.
What can you do with the eBird app?
As the world’s largest community of birdwatchers, eBird is packed with features. Using an app operated by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology , you also participate in scientific research. (It is also the world’s largest biodiversity science project, with over 100 million bird sightings recorded each year.) Here are some resources to help you get started:
Introduction to Bird Watching
Just starting out? The app offers a free online course on bird watching as well as how to use eBird and make the most of its resources.
Bird ID
Not sure which bird you spotted? Merlin Bird ID is a free global bird identification and field guide app based on your sightings and media.
Regional species
New to the area or not familiar with the birds outside the window? The Target Species feature will give you a prioritized list of county, state, or local birds that you can expect to find in your region.
Sights and sounds
This part of the application allows you to explore the pictures and sounds of birds. This can be a useful tool when you start to define different species.
Watch out for the birds you’ve seen
Once you have a better understanding of bird watching, you probably want to start tracking who you see. EBird allows you to collect information in the form of checklists, as well as manage your lists, photos and audio recordings. You will also have access to real-time species distribution maps and alerts that tell you when species have been sighted. The information you record will be added to their worldwide database, allowing others to know what you saw. Happy bird watching!