Birding - Basic Tips for Beginners

• The best time to see the most birds:
  • Migration Season (April-May and Sept-Oct)
  • Nesting Season (March-June)

• Birds are most vocal and active in the early morning - and the light is clearer.

• Join guided bird walks or audubon society and observe how veterans operate

• Visit where two habitats join together (i.e. the edge of a woodland will draw birds from both adjacent forest and grassland.)

• When using binoculars, fix your eyes first on the bird and then bring up the binoculars.

• To identify birds consider: appearance, behaviour, field marks, habitat, range and distribution.

• Identify the ten most common birds to visit your yard.

• See our Bookstore below for several highly recommended Birding Field Guides.

• Get a good pair of binoculars.

• Get a lightweight day pack/pouch or carryall vest.

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MainTour, in association with Amazon Books, the world's largest online bookstore, presents the following recommended reading. Order online and get discounts of 10-30% over publisher's list price. For more information or to place your order, click on the title below:

• Field Guide to the Birds of North America - 464 pg lightweight paperback published by National Geographic Society. Save 20% off list price when you order online! This is the field guide of choice for serious birders - combines accurate illustrations, useful maps and text in easily portable format. Notes on identifcation, behaviour, habitat and songs for over 800 different bird species of North America in full color.

  

• A Field Guide to Western Birds - by Roger Tory Peterson. 3rd Edition Paperback. Save 20% off list price when you order online. A completely new field guide to all species found in North America west of the 100th Meridian and North of Mexico. 165 new paintings, 441 new maps.

• On the Road with Charles Kuralt1989 bestselling paperback by America's permier traveling journalist.

• The 100 Best Resorts of the Caribbean by Kay Showker - Outstanding resource, complete with photos, covering a varied selection of Caribbean hotels, resorts and inns.

• The Best of Field & Stream: 100 Years of Great Writing from America's Premier Sporting Magazine - A great collection of their best outdoor adventures.

• Ansel Adams: Our National Parks Collection of the greatest images and writings of this famous naturalist covering over 40 national parks and monuments.

• Rand McNally Cosmopolitan World Atlas Best known and bestselling atlas title for over 40 years. Hardcover edition with over 69,000 place names. Large scale maps of continents, countries, states and provinces. Excellent for home, business, travel, schools or libraries.

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