KP birdwatching

Female Common Yellowthroat           My mom loves birdwatching like me and frequently accompanies me on my bird walks. However, she does not know many bird species in our area, especially warblers. A few days ago(September 28, specifically), she spotted "a yellow-bellied bird with a dark-brown back." The enigmatic bird had repeatedly come to our neighborhood dogwood tree for the past few days, and I was mystified as to what bird it could be. In the northeastern USA, late September is a ripe time for bird migration. The bird had to be a warbler, although this conclusion did not narrow down possible birds by much. Various of these little songbirds fly through our area during this time, and although male warblers are easy to identify, their female versions are much more difficult.          This is where Merlin Bird ID comes in(not sponsored). Merlin Bird ID, created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a free-to-use app that identifie...

Birdwatching is a relaxing pastime anyone can enjoy, but if you know how to spot birds efficiently, it can be much more pleasurable. Here are five tips you can use to spot more birds. 1. Get a pair of binoculars Birds tend to be elusive, so having proper gear can increase your chances. Birdwatching with a naked eye is not very useful if you want to spot birds in forested and lacustrine environments. A pair of binoculars will help you observe birds clearly so you can be confident in knowing what you saw.  Here is an example: This yellow-rumped warbler( Setophaga coronata)  tucked in the high tops of a tree is difficult to spot, much less identify. Having binoculars will help you observe the bird with clarity. Oftentimes, I see veteran birdwatchers carrying large scopes to spot birds near large bodies of water. Although this is a great thing to have, it is not necessary; scopes are mainly used to look at waterfowl and shorebirds. I would suggest carrying a pair of binoculars for...