[Tweeters] How can I "up my game"?

[Michael Fleming via Tweeters]

Hello;

   Rob is definitely spot on regarding this.  Birding by ear is a big
advantage, it just takes a little time and practice to get there.  If you
have a particular spot you like to bird (mine was Discovery Park) and learn
the birds and calls of that area you will find that this will translate
into recognizing these birds in other areas you visit.  This was stressed
in the Master Birder Program that I participated in, and I relied a lot on
it when I was leading birding trips for Discovery Park and WOS.

Cheers and Good Birding;

Michael Fleming
Ballard, Washington
MichaelFleming0607 AT gmail.com



On Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 6:10 AM Rob Faucett via Tweeters <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Hi Jim - short answer is “birding by ear.”

>

> There will be many more reply and I’ll get to something longer. But that

> is really good, and fun!!, place to start.

>

> Happy to help further. Call any time!

>

> Rob

>

> —

> Rob Faucett

> +1(206) 619-5569

> robfaucett at mac.com

> Seattle, WA  98105

>

> > On Jun 28, 2024, at 5:54 AM, Jim Betz via Tweeters <

> tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> >

> >   I need some help.  I often use eBird to look up "where are people

> finding birds" by

> >

> > checking recent checklists.  This usually helps me to pick a place in

> Skagit County

> >

> > where we live because I can see 'what's happening' quickly.

> >

> >   However, what I've noticed is that there are lots of birders who are

> posting

> >

> > checklists with 2x 3x, and even more as many birds as I'm finding when I

> >

> > go to the same place at the same time of day.

> >

> >

> >   ===> So my question is 'what are they doing that I'm not'?

> >

> >

> >   Here is what I am doing.  I walk and stop about every 30 feet or less

> - and listen

> >

> > first and then try to spot the more nearby birds I'm hearing. When I get

> a visual I

> >

> > will try to identify that bird.  I -often- hear birds that I can't id

> from the song/call.

> >

> >   I'm fairly new to birding - started about 5 years ago.  When I am on

> guided tours

> >

> > the guide -always- is way ahead of me.  My primary focus is getting

> pictures and I

> >

> > rarely carry anything other than my camera with long lens - but when my

> wife is

> >

> > with me she has her bins and that helps (some).  At least 9 out of 10

> times I go

> >

> > out I'm by myself rather than with a partner or group.

> >

> >                                                                - Jim

> >

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