PS 126 Dr Marjorie H Dunbar School

 

Some Tips on Urban Bird Watching

Nick Sedey, program developer for PS 126's Urban Ecology Program took his students on an urban birding experience. Afterwards, they wrote to share their advice on being a good urban birdwatcher.

Location was one important factor in urban bird watching. Deannie wrote that being "a good urban bird watcher depends not just on your skills but also where you are. . . based on my experience I would mostly go to an open space such as a yard. . . It would also be good to be near buildings because birds may be at or on rooftops and on balconies as well."

Daycia thought food was a necessary component of a good urban birding location, "You can find urban birds on the beach and inside parking lots and ponds. Maybe their home is near there or food is there to make their tummies full of yummies."

One of the most important things, a number of student wrote, was staying  patient, calm and quiet. "You should always be patient, like real bird watchers" advised Maria. Bianca emphasized the importance of this, "You won't believe it, but if you sit for 10 minutes you will see a lot." Camara felt that "you got to have calmness . . . because if you don't have calmness the bird will get scared and fly away." And Luis put it this way; "The secret to bird watching is to stay quiet; yes, as quiet as ever to be an urban bird watcher. Also you need to be calm. If you are not calm or patient you will be like, where is the bird? I can't find the bird. Where's the bird?!?"

 

 

Angela pointed out that "Good senses for bird watching are eyes and ears for seeing and hearing, not your mouth for talking."  Remember not to get too close. Sobrina warns that "We should always have a distance from the bird because if you get too close to the bird you can hurt the bird or it can fly away." Jubori had a similar experience; "If a bird thinks you are too close it will fly away unless you're feeding the bird with seeds.

 

It can be difficult trying to keep track of the birds that you might see, so Theresa felt that a good urban bird watcher should always "Keep a bird sheet to identify a bird when you don't know what type of bird it is."

Finally, a good attitude makes all the difference. Keyla noted that, "As a bird watcher you have to have eagerness and desire to do it or it won't come out as planned."

 

Following all of these tips is sure to bring about a good birding experience.  Mark wrote "My experience was great! I never thought you can see so many different birds. . . the experience of being an urban bird watcher lets you see that birds are in danger and that they need food." Vincent summed his experience up in this way, "I was on my house rooftop and I saw an eagle catching [some birds], so I said Wow!"