All the Cool People are Birdwatching.
- Posted on
- By Brianne Chapman
- Posted in Brianne, Saskatchewan
- 0
All the cool people are watching birds, so what are you waiting for? Check out our selection of Nocs binoculars, monoculars, and sighting scopes and get out there!
Has it hit you yet? The nagging need to find, watch and identify birds? If it hasn't yet, it soon will, and when it does, it's important to remember not to panic. This is allllll healthy and normal. Let's discuss.
So you suddenly find yourself perking up at the sound of mystery chirps, the Merlin app has found it's way onto your phone and you are no stranger to the Inaturalist app. You have installed a bird bath, oops suddenly there's another one and this one has a fountain. You get a thrill when your bird bath has been chosen. You are the chosen one. The birds have deemed it so.
| Exhibit A: Evidence that this is a safe space. You have found your people. | |
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| Bird bath # 1 - the one that started it all. | Bird bath # 3 - note the fountain, also note how happy bird looks. |
If all of this sounds familiar to you, here are your next steps. Trust me, I'm not a professional.
The Next Step (too literal?)
The first logical step is to get yourself a set of binoculars or a monocular. There is a wider selection of birds beyond your backyard, and you must find them before they disappear for 6 months. This is where Nocs Provisions steps in. Nocs makes some of the coolest optical gear on the market and they are a company with a conscience. For example they have a partnership with the National Audubon Society that helps support the important work the Audubon Society is doing. You can check out our full range of Nocs that we stock by clicking right here. Since I know that attention spans are diminished and the chance of you clicking that link is slim, I have also chosen some of my faves for you to look at below.
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| Nocs x Audubon 10 x 42 | Nocs Field Tube 10x32 |
Now that you've decided which binocular/monocular you would like to view the birds with, it's time for the next, next step.
The Next, Next Step
The next step is to locate your favourite birding spots. There are really obvious choices like Beaver Creek or Cranberry Flats, Chapel Marsh or the North East Swale, but don't turn up your nose at your local storm water retention pond, or your local park. You don't have to go far to see the birds, you just have to have patience and keep your eyes and ears pealed. Saskatchewan is one of the best spots for birding especially in the migration seasons. We have SO MANY different types of birds that pass through our province since we are so central. Maybe you'll see a Nightjar or a burrowing owl, or a Turkey Vulture. Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation actually has a great resource on birdwatching tours if you are interested. The Saskatoon Nature Society is also a really great resource.
Once you start noticing birds, you'll start noticing patterns. For example, I have a hummingbird that visits my yard at about the same time every year, or a Heron that visits the pond by my my house but only at certain times of the year. That's actually one of the best parts about birdwatching. It allows you to be more in tune with the environment around you and start making connections as to how and why things happen. You become more aware of the impact that the environment has on the things that rely on it and that is an important thing.
Tips and Tricks
- wear soft, quiet clothing that you can easily move around in.
- practice your soft quiet stepping
- prepare to sit in one location for a while
- If you haven't used the iNaturalist or Merlin App yet, you really should.
Now you're one of the cool kids, so go forth and watch birds. It's the perfect time for it!
All bird photos taken by Brianne Chapman.
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