5 Tips for Better Birdwatching This Summer, According to Pros

The beauty of birds is all around us, but we don’t always slow down enough to enjoy their sounds and sights. Birdwatching is a great way to practice this sort of mindfulness, and with the hobby on the rise, now is a great time to get into it. While bird migration in North America typically happens during the fall and spring, you can still get into birdwatching during summer months.

Some birds spend the summer hiding and gearing up for fall migration, but with more than 10,000 species of birds in the world, you can still expect to see and hear plenty of birds out in nature, such as warblers, chickadees, robins, sparrows, goldfinches, doves, mockingbirds, cardinals, and others.

If you spend this summer honing your birdwatching skills, you’ll be prepared to spot even more types as they move across the landscapes this fall.

“Always remember that even if you don’t see a whole lot of interesting or rare birds during an excursion, you can still find beauty in the mundane," says wildlife journalist and avid birder Jared Ranahan.

Whether you're new to birdwatching this summer, or simply looking to spot new birds, here are great tips from birding and wildlife experts to get started.

Be an Early Bird

Most birds are most active in the morning, so set your alarm for an early rise if you want a better chance at seeing them.

“Early in the morning around dawn, human noises tend to be quieter, allowing you to hear birds more easily. Birds start their day by looking for food and communicating with each other,” says Amy Sandeen, outreach manager at the Crane Trust in Grand Island, Nebraska.

If looking for nocturnal birds like owls, however, Sandeen recommends getting out around dusk or on moonlit nights.

Use a Durable Pair of Binoculars

If you’re new to birding, you don’t need the fanciest or most expensive equipment to be successful.

“I recommend not splurging on the most high-end binoculars on the market at first,” Ranahan says. “As you get accustomed to the craft, they’ll likely get banged up, rained on, and covered in sand, so it’s best to start off with a beginner pair.” He recommends a pair of the Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars.

Add a Birdbath to Your Backyard

You don’t always have to go very far to birdwatch. If you have the right set-up, all you have to do is walk out to your backyard. That’s why Matt Johnson, the director of the Audubon Center & Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville, South Carolina, recommends installing a birdbath.

“Birds need water year-round, but this is especially so in the summer months when the weather gets warm and dry,” Johnson says. “Not all birds visit bird feeders, so providing a water source helps them get the daily water they need, and this also may attract new species to your area.”

Visit Different Types of Habitats

If you keep going back to the same place hoping to see new birds, you might be out of luck. To help increase the types of birds you spot, visit a diverse range of locations.

"Change up the type of habitats you're visiting," says avid birder and bird photographer Anna Shaheen. "Try out different parks. Wetlands, mature forests, fields, and shrubby areas all host different species."

Download a Birdwatching App

There are a number of different birdwatching apps that can help you identify an unknown bird. Functioning as a sort of digital field guide, they offer useful information on the appearance and sounds of different bird species.

Birding guide and wildlife photographer Benny Jacobs-Schwartz, who hosts birdwatching tours in California, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, recommends eBird.

"It's a wonderful way to familiarize yourself with an area you're like to explore," he says. "You can see what birds have been recently reported [in the area]. That way, you can keep your eyes peeled for new birds you haven't seen yet."

Another useful birdwatching app to try is Cornell University's Merlin Bird ID, which Shaheen uses to find "hot spots" where there's a high volume of birds.

"It's a fantastic resource to use on the go," Shaheen says.