Page 52 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

INTRODUCTION

WATCHING BIRDS

here are a vast number of opportunities to birdwatch –
Twhether you visit a different country specifically for
that purpose, go to a nature reserve,or simply look at the
species that can be found every day in your garden or on
your journey to work.You will find that there are a huge
range of birds to see and the more you look,the more you
WINTER ROBIN
will want to learn about the differences there are between In winter, putting out food or leaving apples unpicked on
them so that you can start to identify individual species. a tree will attract Robins and thrushes to your garden.
BIRD BOXES GETTING STARTED
Most gardens have It can be difficult to get close enough to birds to identify
food but no natural them as they tend to perch high on trees or far out on
nest sites for hole- lakes. Don’t let this put you off, however, as with practice
nesting birds such as and experience you will learn how to pick out unique
sparrows, tits, and
Starlings. Artificial characteristics from afar.The better you get, the more you
boxes give them a will enjoy birdwatching.To help with this process, buy
chance to nest where yourself an identification guide, a pair of binoculars, and
you can watch them. a notebook – a knowledgeable friend is a great asset too.

BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES BINOCULARS THE ESSENTIALS
Choose binoculars that you can handle
Binoculars are essential for birdwatching.They are easily, and buy the best you can
described by figures,such as 10 x 40 or 8 x 30.The first afford. A camera and
is the magnification while the second is the diameter telescope can also be
of the large lens.Higher magnification means larger useful in the field.
images,but the lenses are also larger,making it harder
to hold the binoculars steady;the field of view is also
narrower and the image duller.You will need to
compromise.There are top-quality binoculars that give
really bright images but they are still heavy and
expensive.It is best to opt for a magnification between
7 and 10.If you want to look at birds far away and need
more power,consider buying a telescope.It will focusing
wheel
magnify 20 or 30 times but you will need a 60 or
80mm wide lens to let in enough light. the “object
lens” described
by its diameter
in millimetres
USING A NOTEBOOK
Notebooks are really invaluable for novice focus wheel TELESCOPE
and experienced birdwatchers alike.
Note down what you see if you want
to keep records at home: it is much adjustable
better than trying to rely on shaky angle
memories later. If you come across objective
a bird that is new to you, or has lens
an unusual plumage, try to take a tripod
description – you will need to look
closely at the bird in order to do SLR CAMERA
this. It is a useful discipline, for use a camera
example, to look at the colour with a long lens
of the bill, legs, and any to capture detail
special markings.Also write
down the calls you hear and try to
make a few sketches, however rough they are.

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