Each Monday I read several posts about bird sightings over the
weekend. As an amateur bird watcher for less than 2 years, I
am curious how the Tweeters go about bird watching. If I go
"birding" with my husband, he hikes briskly on the paths and
only stops when a bird displays himself or chatters loudly from
a bush (Bewick's Wren). If I go by myself, I enjoy walking
quietly through the woods listening for a bird call that I
can't identify. I then track the bird down by stalking down
the paths but usually through the woods/undercover. This method
is most enjoyable for me because I can associate bird calls with
the birds. It also reinforces bird calls that I have forgotten
or I learn a less obscure call of a bird (singing, calling, yelling...)
Is it OK to walk off the paths? How do you locate so many birds
on one fieldtrip? Another method I have is to sit still in the
woods and wait for the birds to cross my path. This isn't as
exciting because they rarely get close enough to photograph.

Waiting for good birding tips --

Arlene
Renton, WA