Laptops, televisions, and smartphones are facts of modern life, but nothing beats ditching them all for an afternoon spent outdoors. Without the distraction of texts and emails constantly dinging in our pockets, the ability to have our minds and bodies be in the same place at the same time suddenly becomes more possible.
At Splinter Creek, a favorite way to achieve mindfulness is to observe and catalog the more than 350 species of wildlife on our doorstep. Birding is one of the easiest and most relaxing hobbies of the novice naturalist.
Mitch Robinson, conservation education manager at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs, Mississippi, offers a few tips and tools for the beginning birder. Robinson says you'll need:
A pair of binoculars. Nothing too fancy. (Robinson says most folks start with 8x42 or 10x42 magnification)
If you can’t leave your cell phone at home, the Merlin Bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is free and user friendly. It helps you identify birds by entering your zip code, the bird’s three main colors, and its general size.
The Audubon Bird Guide app is also free and free and offers a complete field guide to more than 800 species of North American birds.
Strawberry Plains bird checklist
Strawberry Plains common backyard bird visual guide
“Above all, have patience. Enjoy being in the outdoors and don’t focus too much on memorizing songs or species,” Robinson says. “Pay attention to the birds’ mannerisms and interactions with you and the surrounding environment.”
Check back next week for part II of our birding series, a bird field guide for north Mississippi.
