Birding in South Africa - Tips on Getting Started

Birding is one of the fastest growing hobbies worldwide and South Africa has a great cross section of birds (and birders!). The pleasure this pastime offers is immense, just ask any birder. It no longer carries the "thick-glasses-and-white-coat-mad-scientist" image and is a great hobby for all ages, (even offering something for those with a competitive streak). Stopping to look at birds flitting about, taking note of the sights and sounds of the bush and the little things that surround us, can change one's whole perspective on life. To most beginners, a quick flick through any field guide may be a bit daunting, but the aim of this section is to help you get going and to provide a few tips on how to identify these special creatures called birds. There is no time better than now to get started!

To Get Started All You Need Is

A Field Guide To Birds Of Southern Africa - There are many top quality publications available among them Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa, Newman's Birds of Southern Africa and currently the most comprehensively illustrated local field guide available, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa.

BINOCULARS - The price of binoculars ranges from a few hundred to several thousand rands, the price you wish to pay is up to you. Most middle of the range binoculars offer very similar quality, with strengths of 8x30, 10x40 or similar being recommended for birding. The 7x..., 8x... etc... refers to the magnification; using anything less than 7x, one will have difficulty making out detail on birds, while using anything over 10x magnification makes it difficult to hold the binoculars steady without a tripod. The ...x20 or ...x40 refers to the diameter of the front lens, the wider the lens the more light is let into the binoculars, the more light that is let in, the better the quality of what you see. This becomes especially apparent in poor light conditions such as on cloudy days or in forests. Anything over a 30mm lens is recommended.

Notepad & Pencil

Are vital tools for beginners or mega-twitchers alike. Taking notes of what you see, details of plumage, colours, drawings etc. are all invaluable when it comes to identifying a difficult bird particularly when one needs to consult references or expert birders after returning from the field.

FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND A BIRD BOOK - For most beginners finding a bird in a field guide is a daunting task. It does take time but very soon you will find it gets easier and more and more fun. At first leave your bird book handy somewhere where you can pick it up and have a quick flip through on a regular basis and soon you will notice that most of the birds are grouped and dealt with in a similar and specific way. Many field guides are now colour coded and have various keys to help you get going. It takes time, stick with it!

Identifying A Bird

With a little practice, most people will be able to distinguish the more common families of birds in no time at all. Families that look similar are also generally in the same "areas" of your field guide. Firstly take time to see as much of the bird and it's habits as you can :-

What size is the bird? Compare it to something you know well such as a bulbul, dove, guinea fowl or Black-shouldered Kite.

What is its shape? A bird's silhouette is more useful in establishing its family than colour!

What is its beak like? Is it a hooked bill as in shrikes, a long decurved sunbird type bill or maybe a short, conical seed-eating bill as seen in a sparrow?

Colour: What colours stand out on the bird, and what patterns, is it mottled, spotted etc.?

The bird's behaviour: Was the bird mainly on the ground, creeping along branches, doing any sort of display etc.?

Habitat: Where did you see the bird? In my opinion this is most important - most similar looking birds do not share the same habitats. The vast majority of birds are very habitat specific. Read the notes on habitat in your bird books and decide if the bird can occur in that area/habitat. Also note that distribution maps are hardly ever 100% accurate.

By putting all this information together (and remember, birds can look a bit brighter, duller, larger, smaller or fatter than in the pictures), you are well on your way! In no time at all you will start recognising common birds, knowing which birds to expect in what area. Keep a list of what you see, many birders find this their driving force as the hunt for a new species can be that much more exciting.

There are many ways to sharpen your birding skills. Spend the day birding with a bird guide who will be able to share new birds, sounds and birding "tricks". Attend a birding course, there are many on offer for birders to sharpen their knowledge. Join a bird club and go on go on their field outings, but don't forget your own back yard. Establishing the right plants in your garden and putting fruit and seed out for the birds is guaranteed to attract new species.

Once you get started you will see that it is no surprise that birding is as popular as it is. This is something that will stay with you for life. No matter where you go, birds will be there to offer some degree of pleasure.

Write-up by Duncan Pritchard