GETTING STARTED

eBird connects over 374,682 birders who contributed last year, feeding a database that collects more than 100 million sightings annually.

Merlin Bird ID is a free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps you spot birds by ear.

Fall migration brings warblers with drab plumage and little brown sparrows that are tough to separate.

BirdNET provides the fastest route to an ID by processing recordings with AI, making it the easiest method overall.

North America holds 116 warbler species, but the 10 most common make up about 60% of sightings, so focusing there gives you solid ground.

Set up a sunny native planting zone to attract pollinators and songbirds.

The Christmas Bird Count is a solid way to help bird conservation while connecting with other birders.

Think of birding journals as a space for personal insight and creative expression, while field notes handle the detailed work for identification.

Start your birding routine by joining an organized walk led by a trained guide.

People who do this say getting in early pays off.

Set up your eBird account and app, then follow these steps to log birding details, enter species, and submit accurate checklists that contribute to the global bird database.

eBird lets you log sightings to help bird conservation while tracking your own birding activity.

Field sketching helps you notice details you might otherwise miss.

Shorebirding works best with the right timing and a clear eye for details.

Warblers are classified into Old World and New World categories, with the New World Parulidae family containing about 116 species and roughly 40 occurring in the Caribbean.

AI sound recognition tools make field identification much easier, though each option has its own strengths and limits.

Adjust your yard routine as summer begins.