Birding for Beginners : Summer Birds in Local Wetlands

New to birding? A POST staff member shares what sparked his passion for birding, along with five beginner-friendly birding tips and a trio of local places to spot waterbirds this summer. The bird photography in this blog post comes from Peter and Diane Hart’s project Birds of POST-protected Lands.

I’ll start with a confession: I’ve never really been interested in birds. In fact, it wasn’t until I underwent surgery last fall and found myself with limited mobility that I caught the birding bug.

One day, I visited a park near my house—Alviso Marina—just to get outside and enjoy the bay breeze and winter sun. At the time, I couldn’t walk more than a handful of yards from my car, so I set up my chair and looked out across the landscape. Sitting there, I watched little birds wading through the brackish ponds—some in groups, some alone, some long-legged, some chatty. Unexpectedly, I became completely mesmerized by a small black-and-white bird with bright pink legs quietly stalking the water.

Later that day, I learned the bird I’d been watching was a black-necked stilt. In proportion to their body size, they have the second-longest legs of any bird after flamingos. I was hooked. I picked up a field guide and started heading to the shoreline almost daily. As my mobility improved, I left the chair behind and began walking the bay trails, learning to recognize other beautiful birds like the snowy egret, American avocet and killdeer.

With summer on the way, I’m sharing some of my favorite beginner birding tips—and making the case for heading to the water.

Why Waterbirds Are Great for Beginning Birders

There are two simple reasons that I recommend starting with waterbirds: they are easy to spot and they are reliable. Quite frankly, birds can be hard to spot. They hide among thick brush, tall trees, and heavy foliage. I’ve been quite literally pointed toward a great horned owl and struggled to see it. Waterbirds, on the other hand, are typically out in the open and they return to the same places again and again. Plus, what better way to escape our summer heat than to head to the naturally cool wetlands? Go ahead and grab some binoculars and embrace the abundant birds of our San Francisco Bay Estuary.

5 Simple Tips for New Birders

There are as many ways to bird as there are patterns of Red-tailed hawk (spoiler: there’s a lot). Here’s a few tried-and-true pointers that have worked for me.

Learn three reference birds

One of the most important skills in learning to identify birds is understanding size. It’s usually the first question a birder (or a bird identification app) asks. 

Make it a goal to learn three species of three different sizes. Then, learn what those birds look like from a variety of distances. Pick three birds you see all the time when you’re hiking, commuting, or looking out your kitchen window. Whenever you see one, consider how it looks from where you are.

My three are the Canadian goose, American crow, and the California towhee. Once you have a frame of reference, identifying birds that look alike gets much easier.

How can you know how big a bird is from a distance of 50 feet, 500 feet, or even a half a mile through binoculars? That’s where learning your bird references comes in handy.

Revisit the same place

For me, it’s my local Guadalupe Creek Watershed area. For you, it could be your backyard, your street, your walk to work, or just a favorite local park. Ground yourself in a place that is important to you. Recognize the calls of resident birds; that is, the birds you share your region with. As you get to know them, switch up the conditions. Try coming in the morning, in the evening, in the cold rain, and in the summer heat. Take note of what you notice and when, and maybe you will find yourself more connected to the seasonality of your favorite places.

Start small

As a beginner, don’t get overwhelmed. I recommend you start small by learning about just one bird. Find a species that interests you, and watch its habits, get familiar with its size, and know its calls. Then, add another. Is it bigger or smaller than your first bird? What are the color differences? How does it act differently? Make it your summer goal to know six birds you see frequently in your favorite place. As you walk, explain those birds to yourself. Tell yourself what is unique about them and how you recognize them. Then, when you get home, explain them to your non-birding friends and partners and watch as their minds slowly fade to a more interesting place.

Embrace the analog

While I do use apps like Merlin ID, I also advocate for disconnecting and indulging in the beauty of a classic field guide. While apps can be helpful in identifying sounds and quickly naming birds you see, it’s far more valuable to go through the process of identifying a bird yourself. Field guides teach you to how to identify by size, color, groups, and range. They train you to think critically about the behavior and sounds a bird exhibits. And they allow you to quickly flip between pages to compare similar birds side by side.  And best of all, books don’t run out of battery and they don’t need cellular service. Support your local independent booksellers and nature centers; used bookstores are treasure troves for local birding and naturalist books.

Journal Your Findings

My colleague Ashley recently wrote a fantastic guide to nature journaling, and I highly recommend reading it and taking up a practice for journaling your findings. Take note of whether you saw a bird alone or in a group. Sketch it wherever it was: wading in the water, roosting in a tree, or soaring above. A friend of mine literally writes out notes about what birdsongs sound like to him. According to him an acorn woodpecker sounds like his truck trying to start on a cold morning and a mourning dove sounds like his kids rubbing soda straws against their plastic lids in a dark movie theater.

Here’s to a Wet Hot American Birding Summer

Remember, there is no right or wrong way, and there is nothing you need to get started other than a curious mind. Binoculars and guides are helpful, but the most important factor is slowing down to appreciate the wildlife we share our home with. An added bonus: many shoreline trails around the Bay are flat and easy to access, making bay-adjacent birding there a great way for people of different mobility levels to connect with nature.

Recently a colleague asked me what my “spark bird” was—i.e., the bird who sparked my love for birds—and I realized mine is the Black Necked Stilt, who helped me connect to the wild places around me, when I needed it the most.  So, find your own spark bird, and begin your birding journey this summer with waterbirds.