Beginner guides

Everything you need for your first month of birding.

Bird feeders: what to buy and where to put itWhich feeder and seed attract which birds, how to place feeders to reduce window strikes, and how to keep them clean.Binoculars: how to choose your first pairWhat 8x42 means, why most birders start with 8x magnification, and the features that matter: close focus, field of view, waterproofing and fit.Birding apps that do the hard partFree apps that identify birds by photo and sound, log your sightings and show what is being seen near you.Bird kindly: ethics basicsSimple rules for watching and photographing birds without stressing them: distance, nests, playback, owls, feeding and sharing locations.How to identify birdsA 6-step method plus birds sorted by color.