Search “how to bird” (go on, see for yourself!) and you’ll find no shortage of beginner birder guides. We’ve read and watched them too, they’re really helpful, and they cover the basics well. But seeing we've got you here reading the LYFER version, it could mean that you're probably after something with a bit of an edge, slightly left-of-centre.

Well, get ready, we're about to flip it on it's head!

Ok, bird people, let's get out there and see what these birds have got to say for themselves!

"You wouldn’t walk into the gym and start deadlifting without a stretch, right?"

The Warm-up

You wouldn’t walk into the gym and start deadlifting without a stretch, right? Even Ariarne Titmus wouldn’t dive into the pool without warming up first. So why head out birding without warming up your sensory muscles?

Before you start scanning the treetops or chasing bird calls, take a moment. Set your intention (Im going to see my first warbler today!) and then, take a big deep belly-full breath.  

Here are three proven birding warm-ups that are guarnteed to you slow right down, tune in and guarantee that you will so many birds, your'e head will spin. All the best birders in the world do this, so its proven to better your expeirence, trust us.

1. SLOW BLINK SCAN

2. SOUND BUBBLE GAME

3. SHOULDER SHRUG RESET

First - The Slow Blink Scan

Stand still. Blink like you’ve just woken up in a completely different world, because you kinda have. You’re not here to chase birds yet. You’re here to let your eyes switch off and go into autopilot and actually see what’s going on, proper. Around 10 blinks over around 30 seconds should do the trick.

Second - The Sound Bubble Game

Ok, this one is a must, everyone's doing it. Close your eyes for 30 seconds and count how many distinct sounds you hear. Birds, dogs, traffic, rustling leaves, those passing joggers who'll probably trip up as they jog past you, curious to what you're looking at (because what we are doing is far more interesting!)

Open your eyes, then try to follow just one of those sounds (preferably bird related) with your ears. It really works. Remember birding is half listening, you need to tune your ears to the frequency of the bird.

Third - The Shoulder Shrug Reset

Go on, let them judge. Birding is gruelling, you need to limber up, release all tht tension in the shoulders. Start by roll your shoulders back. Take a deep breath and drop the mind-set and narrative in your head that says "Am I doing this right?’.

Shake it out, literally. What you're about to experience is going to be mind-blowingly good...........OK, You’re Ready. Eyes are fixed, Ears are tuned and the body feels good. Now what?

Let’s go find some birds!

FEAR OF MISSING AVIAN

FOMA

Tip 2: Choose the Right Time

(Without Becoming a Morning Person)

Yes, birds are early risers, but that doesn’t mean you have to be that person when you start out birding. We have no doubt that it will happen to you in time though. You have the urge and craving to see birds as they start their day.  

It creeps up on you. Suddenly the weekend lay-in will become a thing of the past as you'll start to experience what many of us birders feel. It's called FOMA (Fear of Missing Avian!). This is normal and part of the effects of entry level birding. It's true, look it up..... (!)

The cure for FOMA is to have a set plan:

• • Go out in the early morning (a little after sunrise) when birds are feeding and vocal. The light’s better too.

  • Go out late afternoon before dusk, less heat in summer too, more shadows, and a mellow vibe for you and the birds.

*Handy Tip:
Birding after rain or when the weather breaks can be surprisingly good, birds are out and active.

Tip 3: Use Tech (Sometimes!)

You don’t need a PhD in ornithology to get into birding. Apps can seriously help too. We always recommend mixing up your birding trips that are both connected and disconnected. Sometimes you just need your phone, but don't forget the power of birding for your mind, with no futuristic contraptions to distract you.

Once you enter the bird kingdom, time flies and you need to be sure you know your way back, so yep always take a phone for safety at all times.

Here is a list of tools that are amazing to have and get familiar with. Remember using these apps also means that your input is also doing a bit of citizen science too.  

"It becomes your personal collection of sightings. Kinda like your own Pokémon Go, but for real birds."

eBird – Log what you see, find what others have seen. Great for spotting patterns.

Here’s how to use it:

1. 1. 1. Download the app (or head to ebird.org).

      2. Create a free account.

      3. If you want to create a checklist as you actually bird.

      4. Tap “Start Checklist” and it uses your GPS to log your location.

      5. Add birds as you spot them. You can search by name or scroll a list of likely species for your area.

      6. Submit your checklist when you’re done, it helps both your records and citizen science efforts.

Or we prefer, to go on the walk, make notes in our field notepad and then when the adventure is done and your sitting back taking it in, or down the pub recollecting of what you saw, Start Checklist, reset the time to when you did the bird walk and update them then. It means you don't have to be distracted.

When you submit your sightings, they contribute to a global bird database and help the largest biodiversity database in the world. Scientists and conservationists will also use this data for research and monitoring changes in behaviour etc.

Use the explore function to explore different areas, see what others have logged so you can start figuring out what you may want to see. It is super handy for spotting patterns, discovering new birding spots, and low-key feeling like a data scientist.

YOU DON'T....

Next up:

Vol. 03:

How Do You Bird? (Without Feeling Like You're Doing It Wrong)