Eight tips for Bird Watchers

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Eight tips for bird watchers
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Binoculars
The only way youre going to see those birds is
through your binoculars. So its important you
have a good set that offers a great view. Buy a
more expensive one so that you can reap the
benefits of vastly superior images, lifetime
warranty, waterproof housing, and light weight.
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A guide
Once you spot the bird, your next challenge is to
identify which bird you have spotted and
understand its key characteristics. Is it
migrating? Is it nesting? Salim Ali, Indias
leading ornithologist, has the best guide and if
youre planning to invest in bird watching in a
serious way, it might be worthwhile to make the
investment and buy his book!
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Bird feeders
Its important to lure the birds into your
backyard so you can observe them at your leisure.
But how do you do that? Simple. You need to
install bird feeders. Start with a black oil
sunflower feeder. Add a suet feeder in winter and
a hummingbird feeder in summer.
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Spotting scope
This much will equip you to be a pretty damn good
bird watcher. But what happens when you want to
study the eagle at the top of that hill over
there? Spotting scopes are what you need. They
are expensive but indispensable when it comes to
final clues in determining the birds name.
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Camera
You will want to take pictures of some of your
best bird sightings and post them on Facebook or
Instagram. A good semi-automatic camera will be
useful to carry around. Even a cell phone camera
will work if it is at least 12 mega pixels.
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Skills
Once youre outside and surrounded by birds, we
recommend practicing a four-step approach to
identification. First you judge the birds size
and shape then look for its main colour pattern
take note of its behaviour and factor in what
habitat its in.
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Social connections
The theoretical or media image of a bird watcher
typically features a loner. But to be honest,
bird watching is more fun when you do it with
other people. I like doing it with at least two
other people, one of whom knows more than me and
the other who is probably a beginner. Then an
excited conversation can be sparked off upon
sighting a bird.
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Wonder and surrender
But more than all this, the most important
qualities of a truly great bird watcher are
wonder and surrender. You must not be careful
with nature. You must be generous. You must allow
yourself to be carried away by her spell. You
must see not just with the eyes in your face but
also with the eyes in your mind and your heart.
That is when the animal kingdom and nature truly
reveals its secrets to you.
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And while in Coorg, dont forget to explore
Amanvana, the rabbit hole for the soul. With
private bungalows on the banks of the Kaveri, a
sunken spa, delicious Coorgi cuisine and a wealth
of flora and fauna, it will be one of the most
beautiful and soul-stirring experiences you ever
have.