| With the coming of autumn in the Northern | | | | northern states or Canada, unfrozen water will be |
| hemisphere, there is the usual migration of birds | | | | harder for them to find. If you can supply them |
| to warmer areas of the continent. There are a | | | | with a consistent source of water, they will stay |
| number of challenges that go along with birding in | | | | around. |
| the autumn. | | | | Suet: get to it! You can make your own or you |
| Young birds are harder to identify as their | | | | can stock up. Suet is the easiest way to feed |
| plumage may not have reached maturity. They | | | | birds and it is very valuable to them in the cold |
| may not match up to the bird you are looking at | | | | winter months. Suet is really only fat; you can |
| in your standard birder's guide. | | | | grab a pack of lard from the corner store. |
| Birds may also be molting at this time of year. | | | | Leave some of the dead flowers in your garden. |
| Another issue may be the changing color of the | | | | These are full of seeds. You won't need to keep |
| leaves and the grey skies of fall (depending on | | | | all of them for next year's planting; leave them, |
| your location and the exact time you are bird | | | | and you just may be rewarded with a rare |
| watching of course). Hawks and other | | | | sighting. |
| autumn-toned birds can be harder to spot. | | | | Keep your binoculars clean and keep your field |
| Best binoculars | | | | guide at hand - preferably near your window onto |
| To spy birds best, you will ideally use a well-kept | | | | your backyard. During the migration season you |
| pair of 8x-12x binoculars to see birds from far | | | | may see birds that are completely unfamiliar to |
| away - across wetlands and ponds, for example. | | | | you. Avid, vigilant birdwatchers find at least one or |
| You will want to carry a tripod with you, so you | | | | two surprises every season. |
| can set up for long views (especially with lenses | | | | Bear in mind that seeds and berries are plentiful in |
| of 50mm or wider). A retractable tripod will make | | | | autumn, so birds may not be attracted to your |
| it easy for you to quickly move to get a better | | | | bird feeder. If you need to get out to where the |
| view. | | | | birds are, water is the place to go. Know the local |
| Backyard Bird Watching with Your Binoculars | | | | hotspots where rarely seen birds tend to |
| There are a number of things you can do to | | | | congregate. |
| improve your bird watching experience for | | | | Use Google or other mapping resources to find all |
| autumn. | | | | the secluded ponds in your area. This is where the |
| In preparation for the winter, you can build a | | | | wild and rare birds will be found, the ones that are |
| winter roosting box. This will increase your | | | | not used to civilization. Check out all the coves |
| experience with birds. These boxes have a door | | | | and bays of any coastline near you. The key, as |
| underneath or near the bottom and are more | | | | always is to be patient and to have your |
| spacious than other bird houses. This allows birds | | | | binoculars ready. |
| to get inside and out of the cold winter wind. On | | | | Winter Birding |
| sunny winter days, you will have more birds to | | | | Once winter comes and the leaves have all fallen |
| keep you company, especially if you can keep | | | | from deciduous trees, you will be able to tell who |
| them out of the cold other days. | | | | has been nesting near you. Identifying nests is an |
| You will increase the variety of birds you see if | | | | underrated part of bird watching. This is a |
| you increase the variety of bird houses you own. | | | | fascinating way to increase your knowledge the |
| Provide birds with water. If you are in the | | | | birds in your area. |