Colin
Axeman (Retired)
Another common sense tip.
When you see a new bird or a bird whos id you are not sure of, take lots of notes and a picture is very useful if possible. Be a little systematic about the notes and work say from the head down. Try to get all of the main features and then if there is time get the smaller details as well.
Have you ever been asked about the id of a bird by say and non-birder - we all have - and you get a reasonable idea of what they have seen (sometime the descriptions are so vague that to make an id is impossible) and you need one piece of diagnostic infomation to clinch the id. For example, you ask what colour the legs were and the inevitable reply is "I didn't notice what colour they were".
Don't get caught like that yourself when you get to a book and think to yourself "What colour were the legs". It is very easy to think you have seen the colour the textbook mentions. Note taking will remove all these doubts. Most people carry paper notebooks but a dictaphone will also do as long as you are not embarrassed by talking into it in the prescence of other. If you are a paper person, use a pencil to do the writing or make a sketch, ink pens will run in the rain.
Finally, I mentioned a sketch and you immediately say that you cannot draw. This doesn't matter, just drawn two circles, a small one to represent the head and a larger one to form the body and then draw some 'sticks' to represent the tail, legs, bill and put the eye in. Then you can make notes 'on top' of your instant bird.
Try to make as comprehensive set of notes as possible including the location, where the bird was, e.g. oak tree etc., weather conditions and what it was doing, e.g wagging tail up and down or side to side, and whether there was a flock etc.
Hopefully you will learn faster and enjoy the moment of making positive ids for yourself if you are new to the pastime.
Colin
o
Green head, white teeth (bird with teeth????). white wings with dark feather edges, and a yellow halo. Eyelids green and the eyes never opened. Halo varied in height above the head and never slipped to the side!! The id is confirmed as a Green-headed, white-winged, haloed Angel Bird!!!!!!
When you see a new bird or a bird whos id you are not sure of, take lots of notes and a picture is very useful if possible. Be a little systematic about the notes and work say from the head down. Try to get all of the main features and then if there is time get the smaller details as well.
Have you ever been asked about the id of a bird by say and non-birder - we all have - and you get a reasonable idea of what they have seen (sometime the descriptions are so vague that to make an id is impossible) and you need one piece of diagnostic infomation to clinch the id. For example, you ask what colour the legs were and the inevitable reply is "I didn't notice what colour they were".
Don't get caught like that yourself when you get to a book and think to yourself "What colour were the legs". It is very easy to think you have seen the colour the textbook mentions. Note taking will remove all these doubts. Most people carry paper notebooks but a dictaphone will also do as long as you are not embarrassed by talking into it in the prescence of other. If you are a paper person, use a pencil to do the writing or make a sketch, ink pens will run in the rain.
Finally, I mentioned a sketch and you immediately say that you cannot draw. This doesn't matter, just drawn two circles, a small one to represent the head and a larger one to form the body and then draw some 'sticks' to represent the tail, legs, bill and put the eye in. Then you can make notes 'on top' of your instant bird.
Try to make as comprehensive set of notes as possible including the location, where the bird was, e.g. oak tree etc., weather conditions and what it was doing, e.g wagging tail up and down or side to side, and whether there was a flock etc.
Hopefully you will learn faster and enjoy the moment of making positive ids for yourself if you are new to the pastime.
Colin
o
Green head, white teeth (bird with teeth????). white wings with dark feather edges, and a yellow halo. Eyelids green and the eyes never opened. Halo varied in height above the head and never slipped to the side!! The id is confirmed as a Green-headed, white-winged, haloed Angel Bird!!!!!!
