Bird watching can be relaxing and exciting at the same time. Whether it’s an excursion into nature or the home garden, birds can be spotted in different places. Anyone who consciously sets out to watch birds needs a little equipment for the best view and quick recognition of the bird species. Which is that? There are tips here.
Above all, binoculars for bird watching should offer a suitable magnification (8x magnification is a good guideline when buying). The price and quality range varies for binoculars and it is a personal purchase decision how much money you want to invest. The more often you want to go bird watching, the better quality the binoculars should be. Another unit of orientation is the lens diameter in millimeters (e.g. 40). If you want to determine the luminous intensity of a pair of binoculars, you only have to divide the lens diameter by the magnification. In order to guarantee a bright image even in twilight and on overcast days, this value should not fall below 3.5.
There are over 11,000 different bird species worldwide, of which 307 species occur in Germany. You see, that’s a lot of different species to see depending on the region and the season. To identify a bird species with certainty, take a closer look at size and shape, plumage coloration, behavior and song. Most of the time, when you go bird watching, you don’t see birds at first and hear the voice first. This provides a good starting point for identifying the species. Experienced bird watchers no longer need any help, but beginners are well advised to use a handy identification book. It is used to distinguish individual species. A good book is characterized by precise color drawings that highlight the differences between the individual species. Further works should also address the differences in plumage between young and adult birds and the differences between the sexes.
The Nature Conservation Union, “Nabu” for short, recommends feeding wild birds between November and March. In frost and snow in particular, it becomes more difficult for wild birds to obtain food naturally. That’s why you can help birds find food during the harsh winter months. Not only the wild birds get their money’s worth, but also you as a bird watcher, because birds can be observed at close range. If you set up a feeding place in the garden or on the balcony, you should give the hygiene of this feeding place top priority. In conventional birdhouses, feed and bird droppings can easily mix and this can lead to disease. That’s why the “Nabu” recommends practical feed dispensers that are self-contained and therefore protected from moisture and droppings.
Basic feet
sunflower seeds
broken peanuts
tits, finches and sparrows
Feed mixtures with grains
Fat balls without a net
Robin, dunnock, blackbird, fieldfare and wren
Raisins, fruit, oatmeal and bran
Source: Nabo
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