Birding is rewarding, accessible, addictive—and you can do it in your own backyard
By Kieran Schnitzpan
Birding can feel like a video game. You encounter countless creatures on your adventures and track your stats as you go. Only this is real life. And one of the best ways to get closer to nature. Anyone can become a birder—all it takes is a pair of binoculars, a field guide, and a willingness to learn.
Many people became far more fascinated with the world of birds during the pandemic, when backyard birding was one of the only ways to connect with the outdoor world. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, around 45
million people are invested in birding. Recently, easier access to the sport through the internet has led to a 44% increase in reports on eBird, an online birding website; and from 2019 to 2021, bird feeder sales increased by 50%.
The best way to get started is to head out to your local park or lake and get looking. People also travel around the country and the world to visit sanctuaries and migration paths. Easy to reach countries such as Costa Rica and Columbia are particularly popular for their diversification and large numbers of migratory birds.
Birding also encourages and supports conservation. Last year, during a 24-hour period known as Global Big Day (an annual birdwatching event run by the eBird program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology each October, along
with World Migratory Bird Day) more than 35,000 people from 185 countries submitted 80,000 species checklists.
Technology has also enabled many people to find birds in their everyday lives and their own backyards with apps like Merlin and Chirp, which allow people to easily identify birds by sight and sound from every corner of the globe,
no matter how rare. Of course, classic books such as The Sibley Guide to Birds and The Peterson Guide to Birds of North America also remain relevant and popular. The barrier to entry is extremely low, although you should expect to
spend anywhere from $150 to $1,200 on a nice pair of binoculars or spotting scope.
The world of birding is as diverse as the species you’ll be spotting, filled with all different types of people with different goals and skill sets. Set out on your own or seek out your local birding club, and you’ll be obsessed and checking species off your list before you know it.
Virginia’s Backyard Birds
Great horned owls, scientifically named partly after Virginia, are North America’s prevalent year-round owls. They inhabit neighborhoods, emitting classic hoots in evenings. Contrary to popular belief, they’re not purely nocturnal. They also roost and hunt during the day. Look for a sizable dark shape, approximately 1.5 feet tall, in thickets.
White-throated sparrows, found widely in the eastern U.S., flourish in diverse winter habitats. With ‘‘tan-striped’’ and ‘‘white-striped’’ morphs, the latter boasts a striking white and black crown as adults. Often seen at feeders and in bushy locales rich in seeds, they gather in large flocks, thriving in various environments.
Eastern whip-poor-wills, iconic nightjars of the eastern U.S., are famed for their cinematic calls. Cleverly patterned in earth tones, they blend seamlessly with leaf-litter and bark. Spot them at night by their distinctive calls and eyeshine, often observed on warm summer nights when the birds are perched or crossing roads.
Dunlin, large sandpipers with distinctive droopy bills, grace winter shores. In breeding plumage, rufous backs and black bellies stand out, while winter attire is grayish-brown with white bellies and prominent black bills. They mingle in flocks, foraging for invertebrates. Recognize them by their curved bills among other sandpipers.
Kentucky’s Backyard Birds
The Carolina chickadee, though North Carolina’s state bird, can often be spotted in Kentucky and resembles the black-capped chickadee. Active and widespread in low-altitude suburbs, they frequent feeders. As altitude increases, they become scarcer, blending with their northern counterpart, which makes observation challenging.
South Carolina’s state bird, the Carolina wren is abundant in the American South, including Kentucky. With deep orangish-brown bellies, chestnut backs, and striking white eyebrows, these wrens are often seen near human dwellings. Thriving in dense vegetation, they emit various ringing songs and chatters, symbolizing a connection between people and nature.
Prothonotary warblers, among the most distinct U.S. birds, flaunt vibrant lemon yellow with blue-gray wings. Imperiled by habitat loss in southern swamps and deciduous forests, they’re crucial to protect. Spot them in wet forest understories or higher up while singing, their bright yellow hue making them easily identifiable.
Red-headed woodpeckers, among the world’s most striking, flaunt vibrant red heads and flashy black and white wings. Commonly in agricultural areas or swamps, they’re elusive in urban settings. Social and often seen in groups or pairs, they exhibit fascinating fly-catching behavior, darting from perches to snatch flying insects.
North Carolina’s Backyard Birds
North Carolina’s state bird, the Carolina chickadee, resembles the black-capped chickadee. Active and widespread in low-altitude suburbs, they frequent feeders. As altitude increases, they become scarcer, blending with their northern counterpart, which makes observation challenging.
White-throated sparrows, found widely in the eastern U.S., flourish in diverse winter habitats. With ‘‘tan-striped’’ and ‘‘white-striped’’ morphs, the latter boasts a striking white and black crown as adults. Often seen at feeders and in bushy locales rich in seeds, they gather in large flocks, thriving in various environments.
Royal terns, iconic in the southern U.S., boast sleek white bodies with gray backs, black crests, and masks during breeding. In non-breeding plumage, the black mask diminishes. Often found near the ocean, they feed on feeder fish, remaining common in summer and lingering into winter.
Red-headed woodpeckers, among the world’s most striking, flaunt vibrant red heads and flashy black and white wings. Commonly in agricultural areas or swamps, they’re elusive in urban settings. Social and often seen in groups or pairs, they exhibit fascinating fly-catching behavior, darting from perches to snatch flying insects.
South Carolina’s Backyard Birds
Barred owls, famed for their ‘‘who-cooks-for-you’’ call, are active in daylight. With large black eyes and mottled
brown-white backs, they favor mature forests. Their calls echo from morning till late afternoon. Nighttime sees them
hunting mice, adding intrigue to Southeastern landscapes.
South Carolina’s state bird, the Carolina wren is abundant in the American South. With deep orangish-brown bellies,
chestnut backs, and striking white eyebrows, these wrens are often seen near human dwellings. Thriving in dense
vegetation, they emit various ringing songs and chatters, symbolizing a connection between people and nature.
Royal terns, iconic in the southern U.S., boast sleek white bodies with gray backs, black crests, and masks during breeding. In non-breeding plumage, the black mask diminishes. Often found near the ocean, they feed on feeder fish, remaining common in summer and lingering into winter.
Unrelated to other U.S. raptors, Ospreys bridge the hawk and falcon families. They’re black and white with sleek
wings. They favor fish, securing catches with massive claws, nesting on platforms near water. They’re common
along coasts, especially in summer.
Tennessee’s Backyard Birds
The Carolina chickadee, though North Carolina’s state bird, can often be spotted in Tennesee and resembles the black-capped chickadee. Active and widespread in low-altitude suburbs, they frequent feeders. As altitude increases, they become scarcer, blending with their northern counterpart, which makes observation challenging.
Black-throated green warblers, among the Appalachian breeders, stand out as one of the prettiest wood warblers in the Eastern U.S. They nest in mixed coniferous forests with white pines or hemlocks. During migration, they’re spotted alone or with other warblers in tall trees, flaunting yellow cheeks and green backs year-round.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds, iconic in their iridescence, display reddish-orange gorgets in males and grayish breasts in females. Both sexes sport emerald green backs. Summer sightings near flowers or feeders are common, yet urban habitat loss poses a threat, leading to declining populations, particularly in cities lacking dense vegetation.
Eastern whip-poor-wills, iconic nightjars of the eastern U.S., are famed for their cinematic calls. Cleverly patterned in earth tones, they blend seamlessly with leaf-litter and bark. Spot them at night by their distinctive calls and eyeshine, often observed on warm summer nights when the birds are perched or crossing roads.
Now get outside and start birding!
Kieran Schnitzspahn is an avid birder and a current participant in the American Birding Association’s Young Birder of the Year Mentoring Program. He has been published in Birding Magazine, and currently helps lead a monthly public bird walk.
~ This Basics of Birding article was excerpted from the pages of NEST Magazine…To subscribe to NEST, click here. For the full Winter 2023 issue, click through here.