How to be a Birdwatcher

Get the gear, and find a perch. Missouri’s birds are waiting.

Birdwatching in 417-land should come as naturally as drinking coffee in Seattle. Because of all our trees, lakes and forested areas, a friendly bird environment is our notable trademark. How notable? Well, important enough that the Audubon Society has designated this area an IBA (Important Bird Area).

“This is the primary nesting and redistribution point of songbirds and neo-tropical birds migrating up from South America,” says Charley Burwick, President of the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society. “Birds nest in the forestland and disperse from there. It has great meaning the deeper you get into the birding world.”

But entering that world, to some, may seem like a daunting task with the abundance of guidebooks, binoculars and safari shorts to choose from. “A significant amount of people get interested in birding when they start to feed birds in their backyard feeder,” says Burwick. “They observe the birds and want to know what they are.”

The hobby of feeding birds is a fast-growing trend. Following the hard winter we have experienced in the Ozarks, a legion of 417-land nature-lovers are flocking (excuse the pun) to stores like Wild Birds Unlimited to provide what Mother Nature is falling short on producing. “We have many customers who come in weekly for 20-pound bags of birdseed during the winter and early spring,” says Bill Kastler, owner of the stores. And on the low end of around $12 to $20 per bag, that is quite a financial commitment.

There are basically two types of backyard feeders available–the tube style and the hopper style, according to Kastler. The hopper is the more traditional feeder that attracts birds like cardinals, blue jays and mourning doves who are drawn to its platform for feeding. The tube is made of metal and plastic and attracts chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers, although an additional platform can be purchased to draw in cardinals as well. Both range in price from $25 to $30 and up.

Once you decide to ratchet up your backyard observations, joining the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society at one of their many events during the year is a way to meet like-minded birders and learn more about your hobby. Burwick suggests a few initial purchases to make your experience more enjoyable. “Peterson Field Guides or Ken Kaufman’s Birds of North America are both very friendly guides for new users,” he says.

But don’t get too attached to the guides. Experienced birders suggest leaving them in the car while you trek and carrying a pad of paper instead to roughly sketch or make notes about your observations. “Refer to the field guide after you make your notations,” says Burwick. “Everybody sees color differently, and your notes will help you identify the bird more easily.”

When it comes to binoculars, Burwick suggests test-driving several pairs because the cost can range from $100 upwards to $2,000. If you are birding with a group, ask to look through different pairs of binoculars. See how heavy a pair feels, how they fit in your hands and the quality of the view. Avid birders will move from binoculars to a scope, as they become more passionate about their hobby. “A baseline scope will cost you from $1,500 to $3,000,” says Burwick. “One positive is that it will last a lifetime.”

Once you are outfitted for birding, where to go and observe becomes an important consideration. Burwick’s favorite destination in the Ozarks is Busiek State Forest and Conservation Area 18 miles south of Springfield. “It has good trails and paths and a great mix of forests and open areas,” he says. Considering that 97% of the wetlands in Missouri have disappeared, and growth in the area continues at a rapid pace, taking time out to observe something as simple as a bird in a tree might just become the next Zen.

Flock Together: Birdwatching Resources

Greater Audubon Society of the Ozarks
417-860-9505, greaterozarksaudubon.org

Wild Birds Unlimited
Park Crest Shopping Center
3849 S. Campbell, Springfield
417-882-8801

Southern Hills Shopping Center
2936 E. Sunshine St.
417-877-1989, wbu.com/springfieldmo

Events

Greater Ozarks Audubon Society
Bois D’ Arc Conservation Area and Willard Area
Bird watching for painted bunting and Henslow’s sparrow
June 7
8 a.m.–noon

Hamilton’s Native Plant Farm Tour
Greater Ozarks Audobon Society
Field trip to observe birds at a native plant farm in Texas County near Licking.
June 14
8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Springfield Conservation Nature Center
Hummer’s Program
Watch a certified hummingbird bander capture a hummingbird and band it during the presentation.
No fee, but registration is required.
June 22
5–6:30 p.m.

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