1. Birds
By Tim Sebesta
Lone Star College-CyFair

2. Birds are Important to U.S. Citizens
• We watch them and feed them
• We write books about them
• We market our businesses with their
images
• We name our sports teams after them
• We choose them as symbols of our
patriotism

3. • 38% of all Americans
16 years and older
participate in Wildlife
Related Outdoor
Activities
• 82% participate in
wildlife-watching
activities
• 76 Million Americans
feed or watch birds
spending $29 billion
each year

4. Why Watch Birds?
n Birds are colorful, interesting to watch or listen
to and relatively easy to attract to our backyard.
n Does not require a lot of specialized equipment,
just a good pair of binoculars and a field guide
that helps identify the bird.
n Texas is one of the premiere locations in the
country for birdwatching. (614 different species
in Texas alone!)

5. How to Identify Birds

6. Where Should You Start?
n 1. Begin by
identifying the bird
to a group.
n Use features like
body shape and
size, bill shape,
length of neck and
legs, and shape of
wings and tail.

12. n Learn to recognize shapes for quick recognition.

14. n 2. Use field marks to identify similar species.

17. Cattle
Great
Reddish
Snowy

21. Summary on Identifying Birds
n First, identify the bird at the group level and practice
recognizing birds by shape alone.
n Second, use field marks on the bird to identify the
correct species.

22. Migration Facts
Of the 852 bird species in the United
States:
• 778 are migratory
• 300 species migrate to Latin America
• 19 species of shorebirds migrate 8,000 miles
1 way
• 34 species of wood warblers and 22 of the 29
species of waterfowl are shared between
U.S., Canada, Mexico

23. Common Winter Birds in Houston Backyard
Golden-Crowned Ruby-Crowned Yellow-Rumped
Kinglet Kinglet Warbler Eastern Phoebe
Orange-Crowned
American Goldfinch Cedar Waxwing Dark-Eyed Junco Warbler

26. How Did Bird Migration Routes Become
Established?
• Migration is affected not only by food supply, but also by
wind and oceans currents. While many birds migrate
from northern breeding areas in the summer, to southern
wintering grounds (mainly because there is more land
near the northern pole than the southern), there are
many other migration patterns. Some birds breed in the
far south of South America, Australasia and Africa, and
migrate to northern wintering grounds. Some birds
migrate horizontally, to enjoy the milder coastal climates
in winter. Other birds migrate in terms of altitude; moving
higher up a mountain in summer, and wintering on the
lowlands.

27. Migration Fun Facts
• The arctic tern flies a phenomenal round trip that can be as long as 20,000
miles per year, from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back. The sandhill and
whooping cranes are both capable of migrating as far as 2,500 miles per
year, and the barn swallow more than 6,000 miles.
• How do they keep going? Some birds store a special, high-energy fat
before the trip. Soaring raptors, for example, may not eat for several weeks
as they migrate. Other species eat along their migration routes.
• How high can they fly? Higher than Mt. Everest. Bar-headed geese have
been recorded flying across the Himalayas at 29,000 feet. Other species
seen above 20,000 feet include the whooper swan, the bar-tailed godwit,
and the mallard duck.
Birds fly this high to reach their destinations efficiently. From radar studies,
scientists know that birds can change altitudes to find the best wind
conditions. To fight a headwind, most birds stay low, where ridges, trees and
buildings slow the wind. To ride a tailwind, they get up high where the wind
is as fast as possible.

28. How Do I Get Started?
n Many good book and nature stores have an
excellent selection of books, videos,
magazines and tapes on bird watching
(Wild Birds Unlimited).
n Birding is also a popular Internet subject.
n Learn to identify common local species
using your field guide and audio tapes.
Consider putting a bird feeder and/or bird
attracting native plants around your home.

29. Viewing Tips
Viewing Tips - Follow these tips from experienced behavior
watchers to witness wildlife without startling them or sapping
their energy. It's a feeling you'll always remember.
n Fade Into the Woodwork
n Wear natural colors and unscented lotions. Some birds can
smell! (turkey vulture)
n Remove glasses that glint.
n Walk softly so as not to snap twigs or trample wildflowers.
n Crouch behind boulders or vegetation to blend your figure or
break up your outline.

30. Where Do I Look For Birds?

31. Which Field Guide Should I Buy?
§ A practical guide will have the picture of the bird,
the verbal description, and the range map all on
facing pages.
§ A Texas birder needs a guide that covers bird species
occurring throughout the United States. East meets
west and north meets south in our great centrally
located state.
§ The National Geographic Society's Field Guide to
the Birds of North America is a good one, as are the
Sibley Guide, Peterson Guides and the Golden
Guide.

32. Binoculars
§ These will help bring the birds closer to you optically so you can
better discern a bird's field marks, plumage pattern and color, as
well as subtleties of behavior.
§ While good optics can be expensive, the choice of brand is very
individual. A good guideline is to buy the best optics you can
afford. If you are a beginner, start with a cheaper model and
graduate to a more expensive model as your skills increase.
§ Remember, before purchasing an expensive pair, it's important to
try them out yourself to see which size, weight, eye relief, field of
view, and light-gathering abilities are best for you.
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/binoculars1.html#binoculars

33. What Are All Those Numbers?!?
n Binoculars have a set of numbers on them referring to their
magnification power and the size of their objective lens. These
numbers are expressed as a formula such as 7 X 35, 7-15 X 30, 8
x 30, 8 x 42 or 10 x 42 are good binoculars for birdwatching.
n The first number refers to the power or magnification. If this
number is hyphenated it means that the binoculars are capable of
a range of magnifications. In the example used above the 7-15
means that the binocular is capable of zooming between 7 and
15 power. Binoculars over 10 power may be difficult to hold
steady enough to see the image clearly. Often these binoculars
have provisions for mounting on a tripod. With a pair of either
7 × 50 or 7 × 35 binoculars, for example, things 1000 feet away
would appear as large as they would if the viewer were standing
(1000 divided by 7 = ) 143 feet away.

34. Aperture
n The second number represents the aperture or
the size of the objective lens in millimeters. The
larger the objective lens the more light it allows
into the binocular and the brighter and clearer
the image will be. Unfortunately, as objective
lenses get larger, the optics get heavier and more
uncomfortable to hold.

35. Eye Relief
n Eye relief is the maximum distance in millimeters that
your eyes can be away from the eyepieces and still see
the whole picture. Normal binocular eye relief ranges
from 9 to 13 mm. This distance works well for folks
with good eyesight.
n Most glass wearers need eye relief over 13 mm.
Binocular manufacturers try to provide this relief
through the use of rubber eyecups that can be rolled
down. Often this is not enough! Some binoculars are
constructed with extended eye relief for glass wearers.
Many manufacturers add the letter AB@ the
description of binoculars with long eye relief.

36. How to Use Binoculars
§ Find the subject with your unaided eyes.
§ Bring the eyepieces just under your eyes.
§ Sight the subject over the tops of the eyepieces.
§ Slowly bring the binoculars to your eyes.

37. Birding Ethics
n Do not to disturb either the birds or their habitat. Walk softly on the
land.
n Stay on established pathways and keep motor vehicles on established
roads and parking areas.
n Avoid harassment; don't disturb birds that are nesting or their nesting
areas. Do not handle eggs or young or stay too long at a working nest.
n Don't over-use playback tapes or screech owl recordings to call birds in.
n Don't trespass on private property.
n Avoid "tree-whacking" to arouse cavity dwellers.
n Divide larger groups of people into smaller, more manageable numbers.
n Support local and national bird conservation organizations.
n Support the Texas Parks and Wildlife Nongame and Threatened and
Endangered Species fund.
n Support the National Audubon Society and Texas Nature Conservancy.

38. Start In Your Own Backyard!
Food
n Bird feeders & plants around your yard that offer
fruits, seeds and habitat .
n Black oil sunflower seed - To attract a diverse
group of birds to your feeder, including chickadees,
nuthatches, finches, cardinals and jays.
n Suet (wintertime)- To attract insect-eating birds
such as woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches.
n Peanuts – Blue jays!
n Add plants to add to your landscape!

39. Things To Remember About Feeders
n Birds need an escape route, so make sure you place the feeder near
shrubs or evergreen trees so they can make a quick get-away. Woody
plants with thorns are helpful to birds because they provide refuge
from predators such as house cats. This can also help keep the feeders
out of the rain and food dry.
n Keep your feeders clean to prevent diseases and deter pests. Disinfect
occasionally with one part chlorine bleach and nine parts lukewarm
water and dry thoroughly before refilling.
n Once you start to provide food for birds, continue throughout the cold
season. It's best to provide only one type of food per feeder. Birds
feeding at feeders with mixed seed discard the seeds they do not want
while selecting their favorites.
n Do not feed birds spoiled leftovers, salty snack foods or sugary cereals.
n Cornell Lab Bird Feeder

40. Start In Your Own Backyard
Shelter
n Shelter can be provided in many ways, including bird
houses or nest boxes (beginning of the year)
n Choosing a bird house will depend on your goal. Do you
want a great looking garden ornament or are you looking
to attract a certain type of bird? One other way to provide
shelter is with the types of trees and shrubs in your yard.

41. Things To Remember About Birdhouses
n Face the entrance hole to the north or east to
prevent the birds from overheating if summers
are hot in your area.
n Mount bird houses on poles or posts rather than
nailing them to trees or hanging them from
limbs, making them less vulnerable to predators.
n Don't put bird houses next to bird feeders.
n Clean your bird house yearly.

42. Start In Your Own Backyard
Water
n Water can make a difference to the number of birds
visiting your feeders. If birds must fly long distances to
find water in the winter, they may choose to stay near
their water source rather than coming back to your
feeder.
n Circulating or moving water is more attractive to birds
than stagnant water.
n The easiest way to provide water is by maintaining your
bird bath year round.

43. Useful Websites/Resources
Texas Ornithological Society - http://www.texasbirds.org/
National Audubon Society - http://www.audubon.org/
American Birding Association - http://www.americanbirding.org/
American Bird Conservancy http://www.abcbirds.org/
World Birding Center - http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/worldbirdingcenter/
Bird Links to the World (Texas) http://www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp?page=l_usa_tx
Houston Audubon Society - http://www.houstonaudubon.org/
Outdoor Nature Club - http://www.texasbirding.net/hog/
USGS - http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html
Enature - http://enature.com/birding/birding_home.asp
Saturday Edition of the Houston Chronicle, Star Section, Wonders of Nature
TEXBIRDS listserv - http://listserv.uh.edu/archives/texbirds.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

44. Songs
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/