Bird-watching brings so much joy. To ensure your fellow bird-watchers can experience this joy, too, you must follow the proper etiquette and know about the unspoken rules of bird-watching. Here are seven do's and don'ts of birding.
Do: Keep Your Distance
Observers and photographers can treat birds and park visitors respectfully by keeping a reasonable distance from birds and nest trees rather than gathering nearby. Keeping your distance means you won't block the trail for other visitors or disturb the birds. If you want to know whether you're too close to a bird, observe its behavior. When a bird starts vocalizing, freezing, standing upright or even faking an injury, you'll know you're too close for comfort.
Photographers should also not deliberately distress birds to make them fly. Instead, wait patiently until a bird naturally takes flight.
Don't: Wander Off Designated Trails
Wandering off designated trails can damage vegetation and agitate birds. Some parks also close certain hiking trails during nesting season to help protect rare species. If visitors disturb rare birds, they might fly away from their nests, leaving the nests vulnerable to predators.
It's best to stay on open trails — rest assured, you will still be able to spot plenty of beautiful birds.
Do: Reduce Voices and Noise
Birds' sense of hearing is much better than ours, and they use their hearing to detect potential threats. Even the slightest unfamiliar sound can startle them into flight. By reducing noise and lowering your voice, you'll minimize disturbances.
Keeping your voice down is good bird-watching etiquette and shows consideration for other birders. Your conversation can startle a bird. If it flies away, other viewers are robbed of a sighting.
Don't: Play Recordings Near Nesting Areas
Another important piece of birding etiquette is to minimize the use of pre-recorded bird calls. Most birders discourage using these. This practice can be especially harmful in nesting areas, as playback calls can lure protective birds away from their young, disrupting important caretaking activities and potentially putting the chicks at risk.
Do: Wear Neutral Colors
Some birds, especially those in the forest understory, do not like bright colors. It's best to wear clothing that blends in with the forest's surroundings to better your chances of getting closer to these birds. Leave the Hawaiian shirt at home and opt for a plain brown or green shirt.
Don't: Forget to Be Mindful of the Birds in Your Backyard
Birding ethics and etiquette can extend to backyard bird-watching. For example, you'll want to regularly clean your bird feeders and water sources to avoid birds getting ill. Also, consider your feathery visitor's safety. You can create a safe environment by keeping pets, especially cats, out of your backyard and making windows bird-friendly to avoid birds flying into them.
Do: Enjoy Your Sightings With a Feeder From FeatherSnap
There's nothing like spotting a majestic bird and standing in awe of its beauty. By following these do's and don'ts of birding, you can enjoy bird sightings while being considerate to your feathered friends and other birders.
Consider adding a FeatherSnap bird feeder to your backyard to spot more birds. These solar-powered bird feeders with dual seed bins attract twice as many birds as a regular feeder and capture them on camera. You can learn more about our innovative feeders today!