Your binoculars and field guide are the bare necessities. You can even skip the guide until you feel the urge to know what you’re looking at—usually about ten minutes after you first focus the binoculars.  You’ll definitely want a small notebook and pencil. (Pens are useless in wet weather—and you will get wet from time to time.) Other useful tools are recordings of bird calls, and “life lists” where you keep track of all the birds you’ve identified over your career, (there’s a good one in the back of the Peterson books.)

Beyond that, the sky’s the limit. There are computer programs for birders, journals to log your birding trips, bird calls—you name it. However, I adjure you to “keep it simple, stupid.” It’s way too easy to get caught up in the paraphernalia and forget to watch the birds. I once saw a photographer spend ten minutes taking a shot of an anhinga, a common marsh bird in the south, while a wood stork, (at that time endangered and quite uncommon,) walked around only fifteen feet behind him. It finally flew off, and he never even saw it. Cameras have ruined more birders than any one thing I can think of.

Non-necessities, but nonetheless handy things to have in your bag

• One of the little packets that unfold into a “one size fits all” rain poncho. A lot of birding is done in the early morning, when showers are common. They also make a useful windbreaker when you’re caught by surprise. Get them in the camping section at Target or Sports Authority.

• A packet of lens papers and a small bottle of lens cleaner. Get them from your optometrist. If you have waterproof binocs, you can wash them (and I recommend it.) Otherwise, the lenses need cleaning regularly, and your shirt tail will scratch the coating on the lenses.

• A small flashlight.

• A police whistle for signaling.

• A tin with at least one dose of any medications you take, and a couple of aspirin.

• A small bottle of antiseptic, a needle and a couple of adhesive bandage strips to treat blisters. A butane lighter. A small knife, if you don’t usually carry one, or a single-edge razor blade.

• Extra sunscreen.

• Insect repellent—spray-on is easiest—with at least 10% DEET, the more, the better. Remember to be careful around synthetic fabrics. Ladies should avoid perfume, as it attracts bugs. Everyone should avoid scented soap.

• Toilet paper or a small packet of tissues.

• A spare car key.

You can modify this list to fit your own needs, or ignore it completely. However, I’ve needed every one of these things at one time or another. Suit self.

What to wear

Frankly, the floppy hat and funny vest image happened for a reason. You need good protection from the sun and glare, especially in the morning and evening (the best birding hours), and those hats get the job done. They also wick the perspiration away from your forehead, and are handy in the rain as well. I especially like the kind with cotton top and brim, but a nylon mesh on the sides of the crown. Baseball caps work well, as do Stetsons. Do wear a hat.

The vests are handy, if a bit trite and expensive. Lately I’ve seen some decent ones made in China for about forty bucks. Try the sporting goods stores, or look on line. Otherwise, a fanny pack works well. I don’t like shoulder bags. Added to a pair of binocs around the neck, they’re just a pain. Hunting vests aren’t bad, and the big liquid-proof game pocket in the back will hold a lot of lunch. Don’t get the kind with the orange panels. Unlike deer, most birds see colors quite well.

Which brings up the issue of clothing color. You don’t need cammies, but drab colors are best. Around marshes, avoid white. Hawks have light-colored bellies, and marsh birds get nervous about white things. Apart from that, there are no real rules.

There are excellent hiking staffs available that double as monopods for camera and binoculars, etc. There are also saplings for the taking in any woodlot. If you’ll be off the path, a staff is a blessing. They help your balance in tricky situations, give you a way to chase snakes, help you maintain an even stride, and provide a means of defense, if needed. As to length, a staff should reach to about your armpit. Too long is better than too short.  To use a staff to steady your camera, just include the staff with the handful of camera, or attach a loop of string in which to rest your wrist.

Wear comfortable shoes. If you’ll be in tick or chigger country, spray your cuffs and socks with insect repellent, then blouse your trousers into long socks or tape the bottoms snug around your ankles over your socks. This looks sort of odd, but trust me…

Where to go birding?

Just about anywhere. That’s what makes it such a great hobby. Birds can be found anywhere from the high arctic to the equator, from sea level to the tops of the highest mountains, and anywhere at sea. Some folks specialize in backyard birds, learning how many different species they can attract with various kinds of feed. Others spend thousands traveling all over the world for a sight of that elusive…whatever.   A guy I know logged 745 species from North America alone — in one year!  If you’ll Google “birding spots,” you’re bound to find a mecca near you. State and national parks usually have guided walks led by trained naturalists, as do many city parks. Find a meeting of the Audubon Society and attend it—you’ll find all the encouragement and help you could ever need, and may get involved with environmental issues and become the next Rachel Carson — or Sandy Komito.

Ornithology is one of the few scientific pursuits where amateurs can—and regularly do—make important contributions. We’ve all heard about the Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide census carried out exclusively by amateurs. Check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website for more ideas. Most importantly—get out there and look around. Learn what you can on your own, and then keep learning. You may find your life’s work. At the very least you’ll get out from in front of that monitor, enjoy some fresh air, and have a good time.

Next installment, I’ll tell you about some of the finer points of birding.