As we’ve gone through the first classes of our Birding Basics series this year, I’ve enjoyed looking for and sharing resources that I think will be helpful for new or beginner birders. One of these resources was just released – a new website from National Audubon and here are some of the things you can’t miss:
First, the renewed content on the Guide to North American Birds is definitely worth exploring. It now includes text from Kenn Kaufman and illustrations from David Allen Sibley. It also looks great on mobile devices!
There is also a new set of articles on birding, all worth reading. This includes a great piece by Falmouth native, Nick Lund, on “How To Begin Birding” and an excellent background piece on how he got hooked on birding:
This might fall in the “neat” rather than “helpful” resource category, but John James Audubon’s watercolors are all available to view on the site. You can even download high resolution version – I’m still picking out which will be the new background on my phone!
I hope you enjoy this great site and considering joining me for one of our upcoming Birding Basics talks:
February 12: Attracting Birds
February 26: Observing Behavior
March 12: Birding By Ear
March 26: Making it Count
-Doug
Meet Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist
A Maine native, Doug grew up in Hollis and graduated from the University of Maine in 2011. Throughout college Doug worked at Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center and was hired as Maine Audubon’s staff naturalist in the summer of 2013, a long time “dream job.” In his free time, Doug volunteers as one of Maine’s eBird reviewers, is the owner and moderator of the ‘Maine-birds’ listserv and serves as York County Audubon board member and Secretary of the Maine Bird Records Committee.
