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Guide to Getting Started

Who is a Birder?

Birding (v) The act of enjoying wild birds.

Birder (n) A person who enjoys wild birds.

There are lots of ways one might enjoy birds. Some folks get really excited by the thrill and challenge of finding new species and comparing their life lists against those of others. Some folks appreciate the feathered friends they see outside their window while washing dishes or the lilt of songbirds coming in the window while they work. Both of these groups and everyone in between is a birder. Anyone who enjoys wild birds–however that may present itself in their life–is a birder. There isn’t a quiz. No membership card required. 

Our only rule is: Don’t be a jerk.

Not to the birds.

Not to the habitat.

Not to other birders.

Don’t give up your joy and never detract from someone else’s.

When we’re out with a group, we take care of the group.

The American Bird Association’s Code of Birding Ethics puts it this way:

  1. Respect and promote birds and their environment.
  2. Respect and promote the birding community and its individual members.
  3. Respect and promote the law and the rights of others.

Birding should be fun and help build a better future for birds, for birders, and for all people.

Birds and birding opportunities are shared resources that should be open and accessible to all.

Birders should always give back more than they take.

Recommended gear

  • Binoculars
  • Field Guide
  • Sturdy, comfortable shoes
    • Waterproof or resistant is advisable. Even if you aren’t planning to walk in a stream or rain isn’t in the forecast, dew-covered grass can be plenty wet enough.
  • A hat with a good brim
  • Insect repellent (see tick info below)
  • Sun screen
  • Bottle of water
  • Small notebook and pen/pencil for writing down what you see (or you can use your phone)
  • Small backpack or bag – make sure whatever you use works with your binoculars. This is less of an issue for folks using neck straps as opposed to harnesses. 
  • Any mobility or other assistive devices you may need.

Binoculars

Binoculars certainly can enhance your birding experience, but they are not necessary nor the only optics option. Birding by ear and with the naked eye are valid and effective ways to enjoy birds! Some people are more comfortable using a monocular, others use a camera.

Choosing Binoculars

Considerations for choosing binoculars:

  • If you wear eyeglasses, you’ll want binoculars with at least 15mm of eye relief. (See “using your binoculars” below.)
  • Full size 8×42 (or 10×42) is the “standard” for birding 
  • ED glass (extra low dispersion)
  • Waterproof
  • Weight
  • How they feel in your hands

You will also, of course, need to consider your budget. If birding and nature observation is something you already enjoy and you have some available spending cash, you might want to look at some of the “above entry level” binoculars. That said, there are some quite affordable options that can serve you well for many years or forever.

Here is an informative article from Bird Collective: Why Binoculars Matter and How to Choose the Right Pair for You

Recommended starter binoculars

Nocs Provisions offers 8×42 and 10×42 options in fun colors at $199.95 and $299.95 price points. The company also proclaims to be “net carbon zero” and is known for its support of organizations enabling historically marginalized groups to access and be free in the outdoors, such as BIPOC led and focused and feminist birding clubs.

(Prices are only noted to give a general cost idea, but may have changed and also will vary between sellers.)

See other reviews from Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Wirecutter.

Using your Binoculars

You don’t need to be an optics expert to use binoculars, but you should understand eye relief and diopter adjustment at least long enough to set up your binoculars to meet your needs.

Field Guides

Electronic – free

Electronic – not free

Sibley Birds v2 app ($19.99)

Books

Be Tick Wise!

According to The Detroit Free Press, “The number of Lyme disease cases in Michigan has nearly quadrupled since 2022, according to the state health department. There were 533 confirmed cases that year and 2,167 in 2025.” In 2025, Michigan reported 18.83 cases of Lyme disease per 100,000 population, which means we are now considered a “high-incidence jurisdiction” by the US Centers for Disease Control.

Ticks are active any time temperatures are generally above freezing. There are 5 common types of ticks in Michigan, all of which can transmit disease. All of the counties of Metro Detroit have known risk for Lyme Disease, which is carried by Deer Ticks. 

While Lyme and other diseases are treatable, the best option is to avoid being bitten in the first place. 

  • Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves
    • For an ultra-chic fashion statement tuck your pant legs into your socks!
  • Treat clothing with permethrin (you can buy pre-treated clothes or treat your own)
  • Use insect repellent that contains 20% or more DEET or picaridin (synthesized pepper plant ingredient) on exposed skin.
    • Use caution when applying DEET; it can damage plastics (such as your glasses!)
    • Picaridin is comparable to DEET for repelling mosquitoes and ticks, and better on flies. Picaridin also has minimal odor, no damaging effect on plastics and other synthetics, and a lower potential for skin and eye irritation
    • Note that some synthesized plant oils such as lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 are less effective on ticks than DEET or picaridin
  • Stay on trails and avoid brushing up against foliage
  • Check your body for ticks after being outside. The risk of contracting tick-borne illnesses is lower if the tick is properly removed within 24 hours.
  • Remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers: grasp the tick body as close to the skin as possible and gently pull the tick straight off. Wash site with soap and water and/or rubbing alcohol.
    • Avoid squeezing the tick.
    • Do NOT attempt to remove the tick with nail polish, gasoline, petroleum jelly, or a hot match
    • Save the tick in a baggie for ID and testing purposes, if needed.
  • Shower after being outside
  • Learn the signs of Lyme Disease (see links below)

Additional tick information

Adaptive Equipment for Birders

Birdability has an excellent resource page about equipment that may be helpful for birders who experience accessibility challenges, such as limited mobility, low vision or blindness, hearing loss or deafness.

Getting Started Finding & Identifying birds

Do I have to get up early? What if I have a day job!? 

Early morning can be a fruitful time, however, there are a number of factors that help predict when birds will be active: The Best Time to Go Birding – BWD magazine 

Audubon

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

CLO Bird Academy

If you really want to take your learning up a notch, the Cornell Lab for Ornithology has a “Bird Academy” with online courses. (These are not free.) Beginner (and not so beginner) birders might want to check out Be a Better Birder 1: Size and Shape and Be a Better Birder 2: Color and Pattern.