A recently-fledged Anna’s Hummingbird followed their mother to our bird feeder, perched on the railing, and begged loudly while fluttering its wings to maintain its balance.

Birding is the act of noticing and enjoying birds in whatever way is accessible to you. If you notice and enjoy birds, you are officially a birder! You don’t have to know the names of any birds or own binoculars to be a birder. All that is required to be a birder is curiosity.

Research shows that observing birds in nature yields significant cognitive and mental health benefits, such as improving attention and memory, reducing stress and anxiety, and enhancing our sense of connection and belonging. I’m glad you’re here and I hope you find joy and connection through birds for many years to come.

event pages

If you joined me on an outing with a specific theme, you can access the resources below:

Bird & Stitch: Ducks!
Birding for Creativity

what to wear & bring when birding

Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes! Birding involves moving slowly and staying still for extended periods of time. Most of the year, this means you may feel colder than usual, so dressing in layers is helpful. In the summer, be sure to use sunscreen. Wearing a hat with a brim (in any season) will keep rain and sun out of your eyes and binoculars.

Please bring binoculars if you have them and anything you need to comfortably spend time outside. Mobility devices, sensory aids, adaptive/medical equipment, and water/snacks are encouraged.

Many birds consider dogs to be predators, so bringing a dog may mean you see fewer birds. Check the event and location description to see if dogs are allowed. If you do bring a dog with you, always keep your dog on a leash and on the trail—many birds nest on the ground and will abandon their nests if a predator comes across it! Service dogs are always welcome at birding events.

birding groups in portland, oregon

The best way to learn is to go birding with other people with more and/or complementary experience and knowledge! You can find a list of my upcoming events on my website. Here are some local organizations I also recommend:

Bird Alliance of Oregon: offers free and paid birding outings and online classes
Feminist Bird Club (FBC) PDX: free birding outings for historically marginalized groups including queer, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and/or disabled folks.
Rose City Bird Collective: free birding outings open to everyone
People of Color Outdoors (POCO): a healing space where BIPOC can enjoy the outdoors together; lots of nature events, including birding outings
Birdhers: free birding outings for womin, Trans and non-binary people
Queer Flockers: free monthly birding outing for queer folks
Oregon Birding Association: field trips, conferences, community science, and resources
Sam DeJarnett of the Always Be Birdin’ Podcast leads birding outings for BIPOC folks

resources to continue learning

Read the American Birding Association’s Code of Birding Ethics. If you plan to photograph birds, read tips for doing so ethically.
Download the Merlin Bird ID app to help you identify birds and save a list of what you see. You can also see a list of birds likely to be in your area. Note that it’s best to avoid playing bird sounds from your phone when you’re out birding (it can stress the birds).
As you gain more confidence, you can start logging your birds through eBird if that feels fun for you. Observations listed on eBird are used for scientific research and conservation work, so there are guidelines about how to record information so it’s most useful. I recommend watching the free eBird Essentials online course to help get you started.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (the creators of Merlin and eBird) has even more excellent resources for all levels of birders:

All About Birds: look up facts about birds you’re interested in for free. If you want even more information, they offer a paid subscription called Birds of the World.
Bird Academy: asynchronous online courses on a variety of topics. You can receive one free course per year through the Take Flight course assistance program. They also have regular free and paid webinar offerings.
BirdWise: online bird identification quizzes to help you learn birds by sight and sound.

How to visualize bird sounds and describe them in words is helpful for learning to bird by ear (i.e., recognize birds by sound instead of sight).

Practice with recordings from the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds

Birdability has a ton of resources and recommendations for birders with disabilities.

book recommendations

reference guides

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America: good for home
Backyard Birds West: good for on the go; local author!
Birds of the Pacific Northwest for Kids: good for families; local-ish author!
A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: cute and informative; great for city-dwellers
A Field Guide to Accessible Birding in the United States

on birding

podcasts

The Bird Joy Podcast by Dexter Patterson and Jason Hall
Always Be Birdin’ by Sam DeJarnett

binocular recommendations

You don’t have to buy binoculars right away! Many outings have loaners available—you can try different models out and see what you like. A number of the local birding organizations listed above have Discord communities where folks will sometimes sell used optics at good prices. I also recommend contacting Gear for the People: they redistribute new and used binoculars and cameras to Portland birders who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

Binoculars tend to be more intuitive to use than monoculars for most people, but monoculars can be a great option if you can only lift one arm, are comfortable looking through one eye, and/or have PTSD or related conditions that are triggered by a decrease in peripheral vision.

If you are considering purchasing binoculars, I recommend visiting the Nature Store at the Bird Alliance of Oregon so you can try out different models and see what feels best for your body. The staff can give you recommendations that best fit your budget and experience level.

8 x 42 mm binoculars work well for most beginners. The first number refers to the magnification level (how many times larger a bird will appear). You might assume that a larger magnification value is automatically better, but it depends on the situation. You will be able to see more detail with a 10x or 12x magnification, but it requires holding the binoculars with a steady hand, which can be tricky to do. The larger magnification also reduces your field of view, so it can be more difficult to find a bird in the first place.

The second number refers to the size of the lens furthest from your eye. The larger the number, the bigger the lens. A bigger lens makes the images brighter but the tradeoff is a heavier/bulkier set of binoculars that can cause more pain and fatigue.

My first set of binoculars (and the ones I still use six years later) are the Nikon Prostaff P3 and they’ve been a solid choice. I got the 10 x 42 mm because I didn’t know about the relationship between higher magnification and a shakier image, but I manage fine! Audubon has recommendations for introductory binoculars under $200 and for models between $200–400. I’ve heard many folks say that Vortex makes some of the best value binoculars, and they have an excellent lifetime warranty.

A popular set of introductory binoculars are the Nocs Standard Issue 8 x 25 mm. My spouse has used these for a few years and they’re a good option if you’re looking for something small that you can take anywhere. The small lens size (25 mm) means the images aren’t very bright, so my spouse often needs to borrow my binoculars to see a bird well. They’re a great size to keep in your car or stash in a travel bag; they’re also colorful and durable. If you have the money and aren’t concerned with extra size/weight, I would suggest trying the 32 mm or 42 mm instead if they’ll be your only pair of binoculars. Nocs also offers an excellent lifetime warranty.

using binoculars

You can use binoculars with prescription glasses! If you’re wearing glasses, keep the eyecups down so your eye can get closer to the lens. If you’re not wearing glasses, twist the eyecups up until they’re at a comfortable viewing position.

I have less neck and shoulder pain if I use my binocular strap as a cross-body instead of just around my neck. There are also harnesses that can help distribute the weight. If you can, try these on at a store before purchasing, since not all them will work for people who have breasts and/or larger bodies.

It can be difficult to find birds using your binoculars due to the reduced field of vision. Instead, I recommend scanning the environment for movement or color with your eyes first. Once you spot a bird, keep your eyes locked on it and lift the binoculars to your eyes so you don’t lose track of it.

More info on binocular set-up and cleaning coming soon.

feeding birds

don’t feed ducks & geese

In general, it’s best not to feed wild ducks and geese (i.e., waterfowl). Feeding ducks human food—especially bread—can cause developmental issues that are fatal. Feeding wild populations at all can also cause overpopulation, habitat degradation, and increase aggressive behavior and the spread of disease (including bird flu). Most public spaces do not allow feeding waterfowl for these reasons. If you absolutely must feed the ducks, try frozen peas or corn (not popcorn) on the ground, not in the water, and only offer what will be eaten right away so the food doesn’t get moldy and/or attract pests.

home feeders

Setting up bird feeders at home is an incredible way to develop your birding skills and feel more connected to nature. However, choosing to feed birds is a bigger responsibility than most folks realize!

More resources coming soon.

keep in touch

Thanks very much for reading! If you have any questions, feedback, or corrections regarding this post, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

welcome to birding!