Birding 101: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Birding

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Playlist with beginner birding videos referenced in this video: kzbin.info/aero/PLflNUezclylD5ujnvzAmOzxibxKmjaViv My Favorite Birding Gear (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases) Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera amzn.to/3GZl3Mu Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod amzn.to/3suX5CK Vortex Diamondback HD Binoculars 8x42 amzn.to/4fXg4Od Vortex Diamondback HD Spotting Scope amzn.to/3MjHkc8

[@davidfrench4477]

Haha, that video did it. I am now all caught up. Good video. I like the basic opening statement: you don't need anything to start out. You can walk up to your kitchen window and - hey look a Cardinal - and you're in. Just enjoy. And the rabbit hole goes so deep that the fun never stops.

[@Stukin_The_Pines]

I don't know who originally wrote this, but I like it so much I've had it posted on my refrigerator for many years - probably before the term "birding" became widely used ? It says; "By some, bird-watching is regarded as mild paralysis of the central nervous system, which can only be cured by rising before the dawn and sitting in a bog."

[@Kellysher]

Love this! I’ve been birding for 3-4 years now, and I can’t believe how much there is to see! Can’t think of anything better than sitting in that bog!

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

I really enjoyed this content. I have more than 200 species of birds on my life list.

[@ickgtib]

I just got my lifer today and I'm at 321 species, keep your progress!

[@Fire_2000]

What was your lifer?​@@ickgtib

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@ickgtibepic!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks, Nathan! Awesome about your life list!

[@Kellysher]

Bird photographer here. I’ve been learning birding for about 3 years now. I absolutely love Merlin. I wish it were available on my Apple Watch to just record while I hike. I’m just amazed that the more you look, the more you see! I live in OH, and we have a great spring migration. Many of my friends think I’ve been on some faraway vacation when they see the bird photos that I’m getting very close to home. In general birders are just really nice friendly people, excited to share their knowledge. I’ve found the community to be very welcoming. So glad that you mentioned ethics! Nature first! I love your channel and always learn something new!

[@Morgan-pf8nu]

I just now decided to start birding because of your video 😊

[@BadgerlandBirding]

If that’s the case then this is one of the best comments we’ve ever received :)

[@AndreaWhoGoesByAndrea]

I'm so happy that I found your KZbin channel. I love you guys' style! I'm from Wisconsin, too, and my 9yo son and I started birding this spring. He's doing really well and we have 80 birds on our life list so far! The other day I was excitedly photographing a little warbler that I wasn't sure about, and he said, "I think it's probably a common yellowthroat." Sure enough, it was a female common yellowthroat. 😅

[@BadgerlandBirding]

That’s awesome! So glad you guys are enjoying the content!

[@javistrangepets7882]

Just got back into birding a few days ago and this video just came out Thanks

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@javistrangepets7882 perfect timing!

[@timjozwiak2293]

So nice to start at the beginning.making things clear and understandable

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Glad you found it useful!

[@juanitakelly3082]

Great summary and practical tips!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thank you!

[@itcho_boy_rob3064]

Birding for me is something I kind of unintentionally keep separate from the rest of my life. I do have a few hobbies that involve collecting but when it comes to birding, I have a journal where I record everything and don't share it at all and I really don't want to. Unless I saw something that might be important for conservation, I don't see why I would. I just love looking at birds

[@Findingpurposefulcareers]

Thank you! This was really helpful!!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Glad it was helpful!

[@markshen3280]

Good morning to you from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR. Even though I am a beginner bird enthusiast and have been taking photos of birds for the past 3 years, I find that if / when I use a pair of binoculars to identify a bird, then take photos, the bird would be gone. So I prefer to shoot first than search first. Thanks for the tips.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I prefer to do it like that a lot too!

[@lindap9079]

As a newbie birder one of my mentors told me 'Birding is a progressive disease' It's so true.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Haha 😅

[@vanillaplanifolia2525]

Great video overall, but I really disagree with your suggestion of starting with bridge cameras. I started with a Nikon P950 and was extremely dissatisfied with the autofocus and morning/evening light performance for bird photography. I found myself fighting against the camera to get decent pictures. I think it's a much better idea to start with one of Canon's more inexpensive APS-C mirrorless cameras and their RF 100-400 lens. Both can be picked up through Canon's refurbished program for not much more money than the bridge cameras you suggested, especially when there is a sale going on. The autofocus and low light performance is lightyears ahead of your suggested cameras, because those superzoom bridge cameras accomplish their high zoom range by having a positively tiny sensor. Another benefit of this approach is that it leaves a lot of room for future lens or camera body upgrades if the bird photography bug really bites you, whereas if you buy a bridge camera you're stuck with it until you sell it.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

The benefit of starting with a super zoom camera (1200mm with digital zoom) is you can get much closer than you would with something like a refurbished 100-400mm Canon setup and it’s extremely light to carry around. I’ve been amazed how many people see the quality out of small super zoom cameras and say they’ve been thinking about dumping their expensive camera setup because it’s too heavy in favor of a super zoom bridge cameras. I’ve also seen many beginners getting frustrated with bigger setups because they’re in over their head with settings and lighting and their image quality. If you’re diving into professional bird photography right away, then starting with a refurbished mirrorless camera might make more sense.