>
>Is it OK to walk off the paths? How do you locate so many birds
>on one fieldtrip?
>
>Arlene
>Renton, WA
>

I think part of the technique is going slowly or quietly but alot of the
"how to find birds" is observation skills and choosing where to bird.

We find many birders who make good finds are the ones who look at a flock or
gathering and find the one who looks a little different. (1 Bar tailed
godwit among 300 Marbled godwits and many other examples). Also looking at
little brown birds or female ducks etc. and learning to see those little
differences will yield more birds. We frequently have a lot of "odd"
sparrow observations but we spend time looking at the White-crowned Sparrows
and find the Harris', Golden-crowned or Fox Sparrow who happens to be there
also. In other words, it is easy to discount the whole flock and miss the
individuals.

The second key is going to places where birds congregate or places that have
good habitat for the kind of birds you'd like to find. There are site
finding guides that help in this respect. I think of a person here, who
every year tells me that she'd love to see a Bald Eagle. I can't count the
number of times I've told her when I've seen one, she's amazed but she looks
elsewhere or can't manage to get where I've been.

Nancy and Bill LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com