Six Tips for a First Bird Walk
by Lauren Kostas
One of the best ways to see more birds in any season is to sign up for one of the free bird walks sponsored by the Chicago Ornithological Society (COS) and led by outstanding local birders. I went on my first COS bird walk on an icy day in late February at the mysteriously named Park 566. I had been considering signing up for a walk for a long time, but something always held me back. One of the things that drew me to birding was the peace and solitude, and I was wary of being thrust into the middle of a group of eager strangers at 7:30 in the morning. But more than my introverted nature, what had stopped me from joining was fear. I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. Would I be the only newbie on the walk? Would I be judged for my banged-up binoculars? Would there be a quiz?
What I experienced was a fun couple of hours with a group of friendly neighbors of all different backgrounds and birding skill. The vibe was relaxed but enthusiastic. The birds were relatively few, at least per our leader Carl Giometti, but seeing a Great Black-backed Gull (largest member of the gull family) and a kiting American Kestrel—not to mention a wide variety of mergansers, scaups, and Bufflehead—made the trip memorable.
Buffleheads by Claire Halpin
I learned a few things that I hope will help others considering joining their first bird walk.
Dress from the ground up. As I discovered, few things are worse than nursing a growing blister on a walk. After binoculars, comfy, closed toe shoes or boots (think sturdy, not stylish) are probably the most important thing you will need for a good walk. Keep in mind, different walks cover lots of different terrain—from a paved path to a sandy beach, to a scruffy reclamation site. I recommend doing a little recon on your location. No Chicagoan needs to be reminded to dress for the weather. It was 22 degrees on my first bird walk, and I was grateful for very warm gloves and a ridiculous number of layers as our walk took us to the lakeshore. Your first walk might call for sunscreen or tucking your pants into your socks during tick season.
Beginners are welcome. I was worried that I would stick out as a new birder on my walk. I imagined I would be surrounded by experts who would busily try to one-up one another with identification and tales from past explorations. Instead, I found myself with a lot of other novices, people who picked up binoculars during the pandemic and who wanted to practice their new hobby. Those with more experience seemed happy to share their knowledge and encourage a beginner like me. Carl, our leader, did much more than spot species. He explained and unpacked what he saw, helping me understand what to look for when peering out on dozens of water birds bobbing on the lake. He also shared the history of the site and the efforts to rebuild the habitat. The whole walk was a much more active learning experience that I could have imagined.
If you see something, say something. One of the best things about birding in a group is all the eyes scanning the area, noting something moving in the tree. The first “shout out” of the day was toward a distant, white security camera that was doing an impression of a Snowy Owl. We all shared a friendly giggle, but that mistake broke the ice and made it so much easier for each of us to keep our eyes and eyes open and ask, “Hey, what is that?”
When someone offers to let look through their scope, say yes. You don’t need fancy equipment to join a walk. Binoculars are a must, but no one is paying attention to who has got the latest, best, or biggest. Some people may bring a spotting scope, which is like a small telescope that can transform a soft brown spot bobbing out in the water into bright, clear image. So, if someone does bring a scope and mount and gives you chance to look, do it.
Keep your eyes open in the parking lot. While I was heading to my car before the walk ended (see Tip #1), the group spotted an immature Bald Eagle over the parking lot. I am sorry I missed it. Since then, I understand it is common phenomena that some of the most interesting birds show up in final moments, as folks are heading to the lot.
Try someplace new. For my first bird walk I chose a location that was new to me on the south lakeshore, on the site of a former U.S. Steel facility. Prior to that I had been visiting parks near my home such as Skokie Lagoons and LaBagh Woods. The bird walk gave me a chance explore a whole new location with group. The trip also opened my eyes to nearby locations such as Rainbow Beach and Park.
Thanks to my fellow walkers and Carl for being part of a great experience. While I am still an introverted birder who prefers to wander about without an agenda or eBird, the experience opened me up to finding community. I joined COS, started following more local birders on Twitter, and have even found the courage to quietly, slowly, approach others with binoculars to ask, “Have you seen anything fun or exciting today?”
My final piece of advice to people considering joining a bird walk—do it. Find a date, time, and location that works for you and sign up. The trips fill up quickly so be decisive. Don’t let inexperience or nerves stop you from taking advantage of these great, local birding experiences.