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Posts Tagged birdwatching

Plan On Spending All Day With The Birds? Make Sure You’re Prepared

Feb 10

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Extreme Sports Articles | No Comments

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Birdwatching is a great hobby. It gets you outdoors, so you get plenty of exercise in the fresh air while enjoying your hobby at the same time. And it gets you closer to nature. In order to have the best time, however, there are a few birding necessities that you should consider.

To be prepared to spend the day outdoors with your bird friends, you’ll need the following minimum supplies:

– A sunscreen of at least 15 SPF. This will provide moderate protection from the sun. For extended periods of time, go for an SPF of 30+.

– Water. You lose lots of water while hiking which can lead to dehydration. Take a canteen or bottled water. Drink lots of water before you start your hike and take periodic sips along the way.

– Insect repellant. For the best possible protection against mosquitoes and other insects, you should apply the insect repellant to both your skin and your clothing, according to the label instructions.

– Footwear. Because you will probably be walking and hiking a great deal, you will want to have a pair of the most comfortable boots possible. Also, if there’s the possibility that you will be trekking through marsh or extremely damp conditions, you should probably take along a pair of knee-high rubber boots.

– Rain gear. Weather conditions can change at the drop of a hat so it pays to be prepared for possible rainfalls. A lightweight piece of rainwear that is also water resistant and breathable, could be a lifesaver.

– Snacks. These are for you, not the birds. Take along some high energy store bought or home made granola bars, fruits, and nuts and you’ll be good to go.

If you survive and enjoy your first outing and feel that you’ll definitely be doing this again, then the manufactures of birding supplies will love you as you will undoubtedly be back in their stores to buy cameras, recorders, and other high priced items in preparation for your next trip.

You can find much more info about wood birdhouses, bird house patterns / plans, and blue bird boxes at Ken’s website

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What the First Time Bird Watcher Should Know

Feb 10

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Extreme Sports Articles | No Comments

There’s just about no more popular outdoors hobby than watching birds. The many of us who love birds have watched birds, in our back yards or at the local parks, raise and support their families. But every so often we have the urge to escape beyond these confinements and go out into the wild to watch birds in their native habitats.

For those of you who have never had the opportunity to be on a bird watching outing, the following tips will give you a good basic foundation of necessities you will need in order to best enjoy your time in the outdoors.

1) Many times, in the wild, before you see a bird, you’ll hear it. If you want to improve your skills as a bird watcher, a good way to begin is to learn the sounds that the birds you are interested in make. Part of this will come naturally as the more time you spend in the field bird watching, the better you will become at learning to recognize the different mating calls and vocalizations made by your favorites. To hone up on your skills you can actually purchase CD recordings of the bird calls of literally thousands of birds. Use these to practice identifying different species by their songs and sounds.

2) Knowing the types of shelter and trees that your bird species prefer is the second key to finding their nests and setting up your stakeout. Some prefer to build their nests close to the ground, while others will find the topmost branches of a tree to build their home.

3) What time of the day do your favorite birds like to eat? If you want the best chance of spotting your bird species, you have to know this. The majority of species choose to start looking for food just before sunrise and will continue up to noon. Some, however, are late risers and prefer to start later in the day. These you’ll find just beginning to be active before sunset.

4) The most necessary piece of equipment you’ll need is a spotting scope with a tripod. A regular telescope won’t do. You need one with the proper level of magnification. As birding as become more and more popular, it’s become easier to find many brands of birding binoculars made specifically for bird watchers.

Begin your outing with these tips and you will have established a good foundation for the rest of your birdwatching career.

Find more articles by Ken Lawless regarding  bird house designs, wooden bird cages, and bluebird boxes at his website.

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Outdoor activities – Australia’s Mt Tamborine region

Oct 21

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Extreme Sports Articles | No Comments

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

An outpouring of lava from nearby Mount Warning – many millenia ago – created Tamborine Mountain’s lush, forested plateau which is approximately 8 km long by 5 km wide and now sits 600 metres above sea level.

The many attractions of Mount Tamborine and its charming villages include craft and antique shops, cafes and restaurants and numerous galleries which attract thousands of tourists every season.

This area is also known for its award-winning wineries with several offering tours, free tastings and affordable meals in beautiful surroundings. If you enjoy walking, nine National Parks within the region await you. Shady walking tracks lead through magnificent subtropical rainforest and past breathtaking waterfalls, natural swimming holes and rock pools. Sun dappled picnic and BBQ areas pepper the way and spectacular lookouts offer stunning views towards the ocean as well as to the West over the hinterland.

Cycling, climbing and skydiving are also popular in the area and many local clubs meet regularly to engage in these activities. Visitors to the area can also enjoy walking, rambling and birdwatching and the local Tourist Information Centre can offer much information.

The Rainforest Discovery Skywalk is one of the latest Tamborine Mountain attractions and was completed in early 2009. Set on 30-acres of awe-inspiring rainforest and alongside a tumbling creek, the Skywalk consists of an eco walking trail that leads to a 40m-long platform set 30m above the rainforest canopy. A short drive away, another popular attraction are the Glow-worm Caves that offer guided underground sightseeing tours through two spectacular man made caves filled with thousands of glow worms.

The rich volcanic soil of the area supports a diversity of horticulture which can be enjoyed on nature walks as well as by visiting the local Botanic Gardens. The bounty of many Tamborine Mountain residents’ gardens is also on display at several roadside stalls that abound with kiwi fruit, rhubarb, avocados and macadamia nuts quaintly displayed around an ‘Honesty Box’.

This small plateau also thrives with animal and bird life. Platypus, green tree frogs, scrub turkeys, wallabies and koalas form part of the Mountain’s varied range of wildlife and in the morning, the calls of lorikeets, kookaburras and lyrebirds can be heard.

The state of Queensland is known as Australia’s ‘Sunshine State’. On Tamborine Mountain, you can enjoy abundant sunshine year-round but without the heat and humidity that the more northerly parts of Queensland often endure.

The beaches, shopping malls, theme parks and many other Gold Coast attractions are a comfortable 40-minute drive from Mount Tamborine while Brisbane is one hour away, making the Mountain the ideal ‘base-camp’ location from which to explore south-east Queensland.

The nearest international airport is Brisbane’s, however national travellers often opt for Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport, a mere 45-minute drive from Tamborine Mountain.

Whether you are parents-to-be seeking a tranquil Babymoon destination, a newly engaged couple looking for that perfect Honeymoon location or if you are simply looking for the best Bed and Breakfast Tamborine you will delight in the serene privacy of Mount Tamborine’s Witches Falls Cottages.

Witches Falls Cottages offer an idyllic retreat to nature and consist of private cottages tucked away along rainforest pathways in one of Tamborine Mountain’s and perhaps even Australia’s most secluded and peaceful locations.

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Backyard Birds Liven your Life

May 24

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Extreme Sports Articles | No Comments

I was astounded the first day I went birdwatching.Oh no. Seagulls directly overhead. That means trouble . When my brother tossed a frisbee at the gulls, I dodged.

Lucky me, I had my father’s binoculars with me. Thank goodness I did not know how valuable they were or I would have been a nervous wreck. We lived in the city in New Jersey and once a year we went to the “shore” for Dad’s vacation. 

The primary birds we saw at the beach were seagulls, terns and sandpipers. Dad let me use his binoculars even though they were his special prized possession, Leupold binoculars. He liked to watch the boats at sea. My brother took in the female scenery from a distance. (He was young too!The birds at the beach were so cool because they were different from the ones I saw in the city.

My backyard birds were normal city birds, like starlings, robins, house sparrows, pigeons, some crows and once in a while a cardinal. Because all of these birds were accustomed to people we did not use binoculars at home. Oh yes, we had bluejays too. Grandma often scolded them for chasing the smaller birds away.

When we were driving every Sunday afternoon in the country, Dad pointed out some hawks and buzzards in the sky but I did not yet know how to tell them apart. Dad pointed out the difference. Buzzards eat dead animals, even humans if they die in the desert. Hawks eat rabbits and catch them to kill them for a meal. Ah, but i still did not know how to identify them. It was Grandma who told me I needed to save my allowance to buy a book to identify birds like bird guides.

The only time we took Dad’s Leupold binoculars with us was when we went to a lake or a beach. On one trip we saw swallows flitting over the water near the cliffs. I was on the other side of the car the day Mom saw a meadowlark. Funny. Many years later I saw my first meadowlark. By then I understood the value and importance of both birding guides and those incredible Leupold binoculars.

 

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Camping – Who else loves camping?

May 16

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Extreme Sports Articles | No Comments

People get on my case about going camping, especially solo. They want to know what is so great about sleeping on the ground inside a tiny nylon shell?

I figure if they have to ask, they will never know. Camping for me is refreshing. Okay, once, just once,. I was inside a gore-tex shell along a well populated bear path to water. That tent felt flimsy that night.

Ah, but you see, camping is more than the tent. It is the total experience. Outdoors I breathe fresh air, hear no traffic. Listen to the waterfalls and rapids in the river. Watch the birds. It is birdwatching from inside the home of the bird.

No I do not think of camping as a miserable way to sleep. Camping in my tent costs a LOT less than a hotel and is sometimes safer. You just have to be prepared with the right equipment, outdoor clothing and attitude.

Every season I yearn to lie on the ground and watch the stars. If I miss it, I feel cheated. Yes, I like to lie outside ON the Ground in almost the same place in each season. Sometimes I am so busy enjoying the stars I do not fall asleep until almost morning. (more or less).)

When I learned how to call owls by mimicking their sounds my camping adventures took a new turn. Now I look and listen for the birds of the night as much as I do the birds in daylight.

Right. Friends and family worry about me. They think I am crazy. Perhaps I am. I love being outdoors with nature. So call me crazy if you want. Now that is starting to sound a bit flakey but it is true.

A weekend in the wilderness with my camping gear and birding binoculars can recharge my spirit like nothing else can. I am in touch with all creation.

 

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Birding Guides for Spring Migration

May 14

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Extreme Sports Articles | No Comments

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Springtime is an excellent season for birdwatching.  Hundreds of bird species  are migrating back to their summer breeding grounds. In some places you can expect to see nearly the entire population of a specific bird species travel past you during spring migrations.

For example you can go to Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania and get an excellent view of hawks, many of them are flying by right at eye level. Some hawks are actually flying below you due to the elevation. Birdwatching binoculars will be in very active use and you will find the sheer numbers of these magnificent birds an unforgettable thrill. Instead of thinking of your own birding guides in your pack, you will be focussed on the tour guide and the raptors flying by.

Another excellent location for spring migration birdwatching is Presque Isle State Park in Erie PA. Ranked as a top birding hot spot in the United States, Erie is in the top 5. Why? Well, it is a peninsula at the edge of Lake Erie. Thousands of birds stop here before crossing the Great Lakes. The tiny peninsula of Presque Isle is a sanctuary for birds and a State Park. The diversity of habitats is ideal for a stopover. Waterfowl species are abundant on the bay side and in the lagoons. In the forest and wetlands you can help the local Audubon Chapter with bird banding and see some fantastic warblers up close and personal.

Waystations or stopovers are ideal places to see many different migrating birds. They stop at the edges of places like the Sahara Desert for rest and food and water before crossing.

Consider the land masses on this planet. Think geography. Where are the land masses or large bodies of water that would pretent travelling obstacles for migrating birds? .

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