Tips on birding & bird photography

Bird watching does not require any formal training as this is a hobby and passion, but if you adopt some tips, then bird watching will become most memorable and an exciting event of your life. One biggest problem that you will face while watching birds is identification. Knowing the shape and size of the bird can help you to identify the bird, and know whether it is long or short, fat or skinny, thick or thin, curved or straight? Tails and Wings of different Birds are also different . With different color patterns, shapes and sizes of the birds, you can easily recognize a bird. The most distinct bird is an owl, which can be identified from long distances as it has a round face, very rare among birds. Some birds are very colorful and display different patches of colors. Some are dull and some have only one color.. Crow or koel can be easily recognized by their color as they are both black. You can also identify the bird by their habitat. Birds have evolved themselves by certain habitat.. If the birds are at the edge of the pond with long bills and pointed beaks then you are sure that these are either Great Blue Heron or a Great Egret. A bird that soars high along rivers and forest margins, watching for carrion (dead animals) are vultures, typical of Central and South America. With the bird's diet, foraging habits and evolutionary adaptations, you can predict the bird. If you find the bird using its massive bill to pluck fruits and berries, then it could be gaudy keel-billed toucan. It also eats insects and reptiles .Birds that eat fish can be found near water while birds that eat primarily insects, can be located in fields or forests. A deciduous forest may be a great spot to look for a Red-eyed Vireo and that too in June. Try to choose trees that provide seeds, berries, fruits, nuts, grains, nectar and other foods as well as adequate shade and protection. Trees that attract birds and provide them with food include the Cherokee Chief and Japanese Flowering Dogwoods, crabapple, oaks, hickories, buckeyes, chestnuts, butternuts, hazel and walnuts. Chattanooga Blue Spruce provides excellent nesting and perching sites. In selecting shrubs, think both in terms of food and shelter. Also rethink your outdoor pest control strategy. Let the worms and insects be bird food and don't poison that food supply by using insecticides. With a well-planted yard you can minimize the presence of insects that annoy you or harm your plants because the birds will take care of them for you thus becoming your gardening allies. If given a choice birds prefer a source of water that drips, splashes, or moves in some way. Rather than having a traditional stagnant birdbath, consider a backyard fountain, frog pond or water garden. Birds need water in the winter as well although not as much. Be sure to keep the outdoor water supply free of ice. In some colder regions heated birdbaths are available that will keep the water just above freezing. See birding sites of india.

Binoculars are regarded as one of the indispensable bird watching devices. An ideal binocular should offer a moderate field of view with at least 8x magnifying power. The objective lens should be 30 millimeters. Although not absolutely essential, it is desirable to select waterproof binocular.

Field Guide/ Guide Book- Field guides assist birders in identifying the different species they spot and often serve as a place to keep "life lists," a record of all the birds one individual has observed in their bird watching career. A number of guide books are available, one can easily choose a fine book suiting his budget.While the organization of various guide books differs, all offer high quality illustrations.

Note book-Each birder has a different method of keeping records of their sightings.It's usually a good idea to carry a small notebook into the field even if you plan to transfer the information to a more permanent bird watching journal later on.

Clothing-Clothing should be informal and comfortable. Long trousers and hiking boots should be worn especially in grassy areas where snakes could be present. Heavy walking shoes will suffice for less rugged terrain. Use of a sun screen and insect repellant is recommended.

Length of Lens-Long lenses work best for bird photography. Look for something in the 300mm-600mm range or invest in teleconverters. The longer the lens the less you can "stop it down." You want to stay somewhere around F5.6 to get a good convergence of light and shutter speed as well as a pleasing depth of field.

Know your subjects well.- Understanding bird behavior, habitat preferences, and the timing and pattern of migration is a great foundation on which to build an interest in bird photography. Seek out areas where birds have become relatively acclimated to the human presence.

Move slowly-By doing so, you will often be able to approach your subjects closely while minimizing disturbance. Birds don't mind some noise or even bright colors, but they are genetically programmed to flee when they detect quick movements.

Stay low when attempting to photograph birds on the ground or on the beach. This way you will be able to approach your subjects much more closely than if you were standing. Kneeling is good, but in most cases, getting flat on your belly (if feasible) is even better. Images created while you are working at the bird's eye level feature soft, out-of-focus foregrounds and backgrounds and are often quite intimate. The shorter your telephoto lens, the more important it is that you get low (so that you avoid shooting down at your subject).

Buy the best autofocus equipment that you can afford. If you prefer a light, handholdable lens, consider either the Canon 100-400mm image stabilized lens or the Nikon 80-400mm vibration reduction lens.Choose a longer, slower lens over a shorter, faster one. For serious bird photography, a quality 500mm f/4 telephoto lens is ideal for most. They are lighter than the 600mm f/4 lenses, cost less, focus closer, and are easier to travel with. They should be used on a tripod with a Wimberley head, which is a specialized, gimbal-type tripod head that makes handling big telephoto lenses a snap.

Before pressing the shutter button, consider the background elements in your image.Unusually light or dark areas in the background tend to distract the viewer, and cluttered backgrounds are even worse. If your backgrounds are a good distance from the subject, they will be rendered soft and pleasing no matter their appearance.Read everything you can about bird photography.