Birding Basics
There's any number of ways you can participate in birding, but the most important aspect of it is being able to appreciate the birds in their natural habitat. For that reason, there are four basic requirements that a birder must meet in order to be successful at birding. Those four are location, caution, expertise and equipment.
Keep Distance
Having success in watching is hinged on finding the proper location. Bird species all across the Americas are varied according to region. It's crucial that you consider the places in which the widest range of bird species can be found. Throughout the seasons, birds migrate from one place to another. That makes it equally important to time your visit according to seasons, during which these places are massing with birds. In places where many bird species migrate to during the winter seasons, people simply go out to their backyards, sprinkle bird feeds over their lawns or build birdhouses and wait for the birds to come.
Bird watching is best done at a great distance, so as not to disturb the flocks of birds. Put simply, it's not wise to chase away the birds you want to watch. You must be able to observe them without giving them cause to worry or be frightened, which happens quickly with most birds. It's important to note that birds are sensitive creatures and may react to the simplest of things. A small movement, a flutter of the winds or snapping a twig under your foot can cause the birds to panic. Taking nearly anything as a threat, the birds will just fly away. In a nutshell, extreme caution is the second requirement to succeed in birding.
Expertise and Equipment
The two latter requirements are bunched together with experience. Only through vast experience can birders learn how to properly approach the birds. Keep in mind that birding is at its best when you can observe the birds in detail. To do so, you also need the correct equipment and expertise when you go bird watching.
First timers in bird watching are more likely to scare the birds away, because they are unable to suppress their urge to come closer. Quite the contrary, you don't have to be closer to see the birds better. That's what binoculars and telescopes are for.
Additionally, birds can hear as good as they can see. You will find that birds are very vocal creatures and have an advanced mode of communication. Through distinct bird calls, each member of the species is able to communicate with one another. As a birder, you can take advantage of this by learning and familiarizing yourself with the bird calls. Ultimately, expertise will come with experience and you'll be able to appreciate bird watching even more.
Some good links:
Some Great Mayan Ruins Tours
- Chichen Itza Tour
- Palenque Tour
- Tulum Tour and Zip Line
- Tulum Tour & Xel Ha
- Uxmal & Kabah Tour
- Calakmul Tour
- Tikal Tour and El Peru Canoe
- Tikal Yaxha Nakum Tour
- Coba Tour Sunset
- Coba Tour Adventure
