It’s a fun, inexpensive activity that you can do anywhere at any time. Bird Watching. You can step outside and observe these cute creatures right in your own backyard or you can go for a hike. 

There are many people who enjoy the entertainment they bring. You never know the types of birds that will show up at the feeder or be seen in the trees. They vary in color, song, and behavior. And research has shown that watching birds or even simply listening to them has mental health benefits. 

During the pandemic, bird watching increased. No longer was bird watching the hobby of choice for ornithologists. The Audubon Society, the bird conservation nonprofit, says its website traffic spiked 23 percent in March and April of 2020, compared to the year prior. More folks were at home and curious about the activity they saw out of their windows, and observing and listening to birds brought stress relief to those cooped up at home. 

A study of 1292 participants who completed a total of 26,856 ecological momentary assessments between April 2018 and October 2021 found that everyday encounters with birdlife were associated with time-lasting improvements in mental wellbeing, as published in Scientific Reports.

The species of birds varies depending on where you live. Here, in the northeast, there are opportunities to attract a number of birds to your backyard. Baltimore Orioles are prevalent and especially love oranges and grape jelly. Hanging a special feeder like this one found on Amazon can increase your chances of seeing these beautiful orange feathered friends. 

Another favorite is the hummingbird. The ultimate “snowbird”, they migrate from Central America or Mexico, where they spend the winter, to their breeding grounds in the United States. They can be seen as early as February in some parts and stay until the beginning of October. Special hummingbird feeders are a great way to attract these fast flying and highly energetic birds. However, due to their long slender needlelike bills, keeping a variety of tubular flowers, like red columbine, bee balm, or trumpet vine near your home is equally effective.

How to get started

Knowing the types of birds that you’ll find is a great way to begin. You may want to pick up a field guide - one that is written with information about birds specific to the area where you live. Feed the Birds: Attract and Identify 196 Common North American Birds and National Audubon Society Birds of North America (National Audubon Society Complete Guides) may be good resources for those living in the Northeast United States. Learning more about the birds in your area, including what attracts them, will increase your chances of having the birds visit your backyard.

Investing in binoculars and visiting the ebird website might be a good next step. The ebird website provides an interactive map of where a variety of bird species can be seen. A good app to help with identifying the birds in your area is the Cornell Lab’s Merlin app, and it's free. I use the Sound ID feature on the app a lot. Once you click on the record button, a list of birds begins to populate your screen, based upon the songs that are being sung. When a song is predominant, the app will identify that particular bird by highlighting it, and then more information about that bird can be found using the dropdown arrow.

Expand Your Horizons

The Audubon Society has a list of local chapters that you can join to meet other bird watching enthusiasts. For those living in Massachusetts, the Mass Audubon Society gives information on the most common birds you can find in the state, as well as online and in-person educational opportunities and events. And the cost to attend is fairly low.

Touted as America’s most active bird club, the Brookline Bird Club offers birding trips in New England. You may be interested to know that they offer a special downeast Maine puffin trip even! The American Birding Association also offers special trips throughout the year to places as far away as Rwanda!

Whether you travel far from home or simply want to stay in your backyard, there are endless opportunities to look for amazing birds and enjoy an extremely satisfying hobby.