Birding has easily become one of my favorite hobbies. In a short period of time, the art of finding, photographing, and identifying birds has taught me so much. Without realizing it right away, it has allowed me to spend the time I need breathing deeply and staying focused on something other than the day to day routines of life. Watching for birds requires patience, listening, observing, researching, and immersing oneself in nature.
On a sunny but cool Saturday afternoon in April, I ventured out on what turned into a much-needed four hour period of solitude in nature. I left our house with my backpack, a reusable bag for litter, a bottle of water, a few snacks, music playing through my headphones, my camera, and most importantly; no expectations. The first part of my walk was spent blazing through the muddy trails singing to myself and looking around appreciating the warm rays of sun and blue sky above. After about 45 minutes and a quick litter sweep, I decided to head back.
While taking the loop back home, I caught a glimpse of a small opening in a rock wall. I headed towards it to see where it led to and to my surprise it was a large open field. The sun was at its strongest and there was something so incredibly inviting about this grassy area. I decided to sit right in the middle of the field, take my coat off and use it as a pillow, lay back, and stare at the open sky. Within a matter of minutes, a Sharp-Shinned Hawk flew so close to my head I could hear its wings slicing through the air. I continued to stare at the sky completely at peace and then, to my surprise, two Ospreys flew over. Enough laying down I thought, it was time to get the camera. I ended up spending nearly three hours in that field waiting, watching, and photographing. It was within this field that this personal essay came to life, and for that I am thankful as I've been wanting to write about something that didn’t feel forced for quite some time.
So without further ado, here are the lessons birding has brought into my life thus far.
Practicing Patience
Birds are everywhere but sometimes you can’t spot them right away. When it comes to watching for birds and photographing them, patience is key. Don’t get me wrong, every time I venture out on a birding mission something awesome happens and I’m able to capture a photo. However, when you sit, wait, and really pay attention to your surroundings, that’s when you see the most amazing things.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Learning to Listen
Listening is a huge part of paying attention to your surroundings. When you listen you are not only able to focus your attention in the direction of a particular bird call, but when you eventually spot the bird, you are able to learn their distinct calls and then in the future, you’re able to identify him or her without actually seeing them. I find that listening to the way birds communicate is quite fascinating. You can’t help but wonder what they are discussing. Sometimes learning to listen in our own lives and venturing outside of our own thoughts can be a true challenge, but if you put yourself to the test, the experience will be valuable.
Northern Cardinal
Locating
Birds have specific preferences on where they choose to live and nest based on their survival needs. You can’t just head outdoors and expect to encounter a particular bird in a field nearby, you have to research and identify a birds’ environmental preferences. This research can be done through getting outside and familiarizing yourself with the various types of environments around you or studying a specific bird that interests you through a bird book or the internet. In the last month, I’ve had my heart set on finding an Osprey nest so I began to research through both methods mentioned previously. In my research, I learned that Osprey, which are nicknamed fish-hawks as they primarily feed off fish, nest near bodies of water. Eventually I traveled by foot and car to find three Osprey nests around the coastline of Rhode Island. Taking the time to learn, search, and discover is a very rewarding process.
Osprey
Photographing and Observing
Photographing wildlife is nothing short of thrilling to me. My heart races a little bit when I finally see a bird in the distance that I’ve been eager to find. It’s like hunting or fishing, but the capture comes with the shutter of a lens and no harm. Once the photo is taken, it doesn’t mean the adventure stops either. Now it’s time to go home, review the photo and identify the bird. Some birds look very similar to one another, and while they may fall in the same category of species, they are actually different. You learn how to identify a particular species by studying the shape of their wings, the curve of a beak, and their unique markings. There are hundreds of species of birds that either migrate through, winter here, or are residents to New England. I find it exciting that I haven’t even scratched the surface of encountering even a fraction of them. But those that I have had the pleasure of observing, have taught me so much already. I’ve learned that Goldfinches can be a bit feisty, Ospreys generally mate for life, I know the sound of a Mourning Doves wings, the call of a Red-bellied Woodpecker, the markings of a Great Horned Owl, and the joy that having the opportunity to experience all of this has brought to my life.
American Goldfinch
Time in Nature
Life has so much to offer if you just stop, slow down, look around and appreciate everything. Nature will always be here for us as long as we seek it out and take care of it. Spending time in nature will leave you speechless and filled with an overwhelming sense of wonder and gratitude. The point is, life is happening all around us and when you take the time to watch it unfold, you never know what you might find.
Great Horned Owl
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A very special thank you to my fiance, Brett, for gifting me with my camera. And to his parents for surprising us with an awesome pair of bins. These gifts have allowed me to pursue my passion for birding and wildlife photography.
Birding Gear
