Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Other electronic gadgets that birders might carry in the field include recording equip-
ment — parabolic or shotgun microphones and recorders. Now that it's possible to get
reasonably priced digital recorders not much bigger than a deck of playing cards, more
and more birders may start making their own high-quality sound recordings. Of course,
many birders also carry cameras that take photographs and/or video.
Learning More about Birds
Q Is there any equipment a birder should have besides binoculars, a field guide, and
maybe a spotting scope?
A
Yes. Every birder should always carry a field notebook and pen or pencil. A field note-
bookisindispensibleforkeepingtrackofwhatyousee—notjustforlistingeachspecies
but also noting how many you see and any interesting behaviors you observe, the places
you go, and weather conditions. When you're starting out, you may want to record what
fieldmarksyounoteoneachbird,especiallyunfamiliarspecies.Ittakesabitofdiscipline
to get into the habit of writing things down every 15 minutes or so when on an outing,
and sometimes when you go out wanting to feel as free as a bird, a notebook may make
you feel encumbered. But you'll soon be grateful for the memories and will have good
habits when you encounter a rarity that requires documentation.
Birding stores sell waterproof spiral notebooks, but less expensive small notebooks
can work well under most field conditions. To minimize weight, some people keep a
small ring binder at home and tuck just a few sheets, folded if necessary, into their field
guide. A daily checklist sheet can be useful if it leaves plenty of room for keeping track
