Although you can bird at any time, experienced birders know that some periods are a lot more productive than others.
Early is best
Unless you are chasing night birds such as owls or nightjars, early morning or late afternoon are normally most fruitful. Birds are more active than during the heat of the day.
Dawn is particularly good as birds are hungry after the night and out and about looking for food. The still air also helps to carry birdsong, revealing the location and identity of any singing birds.
If you plan to visit a public park or recreational area, consider avoiding weekends and public holidays as these days tend to be much busier. The additional visitors often scare birds away from trails and any extra noise will make bird calls harder to hear.
Changing seasons
Each of the four seasons holds something special, but springs is always a favourite. Migrants arrive and the breeding season start. Birds court, sing and display their most vibrant plumage, giving birdwatchers plenty to look at.
During the following summer months, you may be lucky to see some of the recently hatched fledglings. This is a time of plenty with grasses seeding and fruiting trees full of feeding birds.
In autumn, vegetation brown and migrants start to gather. Large flocks of departing or passing birds is one of nature’s annual spectacles. Winter may be quieter and many remaining species will be looking downright drab, but it is a great time to hone your birding skills. An added bonus is that vegetation will be less thick and water levels at dams and rivers will be down, making many species easier to find and observe.
