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To our way of thinking, the supreme tactic for watching birds is to simply sit down
someplace, make yourself comfortable, and then be as still and quiet as possible.
A seemingly empty landscape slowly comes to life around you. The longer you sit, the more
aware you become of all of the creatures who are sharing your space. Shy birds such
as the California Quail, the
Rufous-sided Towhee, or the
Western Bluebird may come out
of their hiding places once they sense that the noise of passing humans has stopped.
Sitting long enough in one place may treat the patient bird watcher to the breathtaking
spectacle of a hawk or kestrel soaring overhead. Your eyes may pick out nesting pairs
of birds repeatedly alighting in a certain spot, thereby informing you of their nesting
site. You will want to keep your bird watching binoculars close at hand for such
moments.
Often times, however, bird sightings occur at unlikely moments when you aren't even
taking the time to sit down quietly. At American Bird Guide, the windows in our
building serve as our 24 hour observation deck on the bird world. The apple tree
plays host to Scrub Jays and
House Finches. Vast flocks of
American Goldfinches gild the
patio. Hummingbirds zing through the butterfly bush hedges. And Quails,
Sparrows, and Chickadees
stop by every day. Whether you're doing dishes at the kitchen window or looking up
from a book in the living room, you never know who may fly by.
The love of bird watching may begin with your first glimpse of an exciting bird like
the Ruby-Crowned Kinglet and
then ripen over time so that you can think of no holiday more inviting than a bird
watching vacation in another part of your state or another part of the country.
We advise all devoted bird watchers to keep a bird watching log where they can record
their sightings, and a bird watching tour is the chance of a lifetime to add new
species to your list! At present, many Americans are traveling to the Big Woods of
Arkansas in hopes of spotting the recently re-discovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Many states and countries around the world offer captivating bird watching vacations.
Fortunately for those on a tight budget, or in less than the best of health, your own
bird watching vacation can be no more complicated than looking out a window, stepping
into the garden, or strolling through your neighborhood park.
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