If you speak to anyone who really appreciates birds, they will adamantly tell you that "this" is NOT a hobby, this is part of life. Let's get poetic for a second. It's more a doorway into a world that’s been unfolding around you for millions of years. Birds have been singing, nesting, migrating, surviving, while we’ve all been busy doing human things. And now that you’ve tuned in, youre life is about to change. Massively.

Like all of us starting out, you might feel a little awkward at first. People will probably give you a sideways glance when you freeze mid-walk to follow something that flew overhead. It can feel like a bit of a ‘coming out’ story for some, but don't worry! This is normal. The truth is, there are millions of us birders out there, and we've felt it too.

You're Not

Alone.

To give you a little peace of mind, check out these stats. It will make you feel that you're not the only one loving birds:

• • Birdwatching Tourism in Australia is worth over $3 billion a year.

  • 45 million Americans do too.**

  • In 2024, more than 60,000 Australians took part in the Aussie Bird Count, logging over 3.6 million birds.

  • In the UK, over 600,000 people joined the Big Garden Birdwatch, recording more than 9.5 million birds.

  • Not to menton the thousands of global photographers out there and millions and millions of followers who are, at the least, fascinated by birds.
  • Or us, at LYFER, we've gone and build a whole brand around it, and our followers are growing quick smart!

"Over $3 billion a year

is pumped into Australia's tourism for birdwatching."

We're about to guide you through a rather irreverent journey of bird-watching. We’re not experts in birds, and we don’t claim to be. But what we do have is a real connection and appreciation for birds and nature, and we built an entire brand around that feeling. A bit extreme?

Yeah, maybe, but we’re here to make sure you know you're part of something so brilliantly rewarding, and that will probably be with you for the rest of your life.

Ok, so let's get a few basics out the way before you go on your first official ‘bird walk’.

You just need three things:

1.  A pair of Bins (Get used to calling them BINS. That’s the official lingo for Binoculars!).

2. Bird Field Guide - A bird field guide is your go-to for figuring out who's flapping by. It’s packed with pics, calls, and tips to help you ID birds on the spot, basically, your birding wingman.

3. Field Notepad - Just buy one of ours here and bring something to write with. Yep, there are apps you can use, but we really encourage you to save this til later, you don't want any distractions.

1. The Basics - Binoculars

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get the things you need to start birding:

• Binoculars: Look for something in the 8x42 range, they are kind of the sweet spot for birdwatching. They strike a nice balance between clarity and comfort.

8x = Magnification: the image appears 8 times closer than with the naked eye.

42 = Objective lens diameter in millimetres: this is the size of the lens that gathers light.

Our top 4 binoculars for birders starting out are:

1. Bushnell H2O 8x42
2. Celestron Nature DX
3. Nikon Aculon A211

If you’re after something more design-led, check out NOCS Field Issue 10x32. They’re lightweight, waterproof, and ridiculously good-looking. Plus, they ship within Australia and are showing up in more local stores too.

2. The Basics - Bird Field Guide

Unfortunately, birds don't wear name tags! That’s where your bird field guide comes in. You spot something, make a few quick notes in your field notepad, colours, size, what it was doing, then later, you find a quiet spot, flip through your Bird Field Guide, and piece it together.

Come to think of it, it's worth getting yourself a shoulder carry bag to fit in your phone, field notepad, a pen/pencil, bins (binoculars remember, youll get there!!), camera, thermo bottle and perhaps a travel first aid kit too. This calls for a senseless plug of our LYFER Field Tote Bag!

3. The Basics - Field Notepad

The third essential? Something to write on. Yep, you’ll probably end up downloading eBird and Merlin ID, it's a must! But that’s post-walk stuff. During the birding?

Keep your phone in your pocket and your focus outside, on the whats around you. A good field notepad helps you slow down, tune in, and capture the details while they’re fresh. Use whatever you’ve got, or better yet, grab one of ours (another shameless plug, our stone paper pads are made for this). Your 'future self' will thank you.

It’s not about memorising (although it feels good when you know what you see and hear), it’s often about noticing more, connecting deeper, and not missing the magic that just happened. These are our favourites:

1. 1. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds - Peter Slater, Pat Slater, Raoul Slater

   2. The Compact Australian Bird Guide, Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers, Rohan Marsack

   3. The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight

A few other bird books with a difference:

1. 1. How Birds Behave: Interpreting What They Do and Why, Wenfei Tong

   2. 100 Australian Birds, Georgia Angus

What happens on your first bird walks?

You don’t need to hike into the wilderness. Start in your neighbourhood, a local park, or even just your balcony. Take your time. Stop often. Look up. Listen. That’s it. And then something funny happens.

You’ll notice that most people around you, walking, jogging, glued to their podcasts, are completely tuned out to what’s going on above their heads or in the bushes beside them. You’ll see a flash of colour, hear a strange call, freeze in your tracks... and they’ll just breeze past like nothing’s happening. It’s like you’ve stepped into a parallel universe.

"It’s like you’ve stepped into

a parallel universe."

And honestly, you kind of have. It’s weird at first. But it’s also pretty amazing stuff. You’re noticing life that’s been there all along, just waiting for you to pay attention.

Don’t be afraid to go solo. Some of the most peaceful, grounding birding happens when it’s just you and the birds. No rules. No pressure. Just you, fully switched on in a world that’s always been alive with sound and movement.

And that’s kind of what it’s all about. Welcome to birding. That’s the start. Simple, grounding and life-changing.

References:

* BirdLife Australia, 2020 Participation Estimate

** U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2022 National Survey

Next up:

Vol. 02:

How Not To Bird - The Etiquette of Birding