Off the Beat: For the Birds

(Hooded Mergenser. Photo by Tannar Cliffe.)

A few days ago I heard a young TV host who was modeling a pair of boyfriend jeans admit that she’d love to go birdwatching in them. She quickly followed that by saying she knows birdwatching is “uncool.”

Birdwatching may or may not be “uncool” but, whichever it is, it is so much more than “watching.” It’s hunting without the blood; it’s hiking with perks; it can be a form of collecting; it’s mystery-solving with fresh air. As the tail-end of winter shakes off its snow and birds begin to rush in, or migrate by, you can catch them through binoculars in views that can be as breathtaking as a closeup of Zoe Saldana in Avatar (only they’re 100% real).

One of the amazing things about birds is that they are everywhere. You can make a creative date out of a day trip, make birdwatching the focus of a faraway vacation, or just go to Binghamton’s own Otsiningo Park and maybe catch sight of cedar waxwings, yellow warblers, or perhaps a great blue heron off the banks of the Chenango River.

Don’t be intimidated by lack of knowledge - help is out there.

I thought I had found a goldmine in an organization called BirdingPals. Their website lists birdwatchers from all over the state – and all over the world - who are willing to act as field guides for visiting travelers and local newbies. The site accepted my $10 annual, automatically-renewable-unless-you-cancel membership fee, and allowed me access to contact each of these people. But not one of them responded to me - probably some hitch in their system, but no organization phone number was in sight, so approach that with great caution.

However, the Naturalists Club of Broome County, located in Vestal, was accessible, helpful, and welcoming. (Don’t confuse the Naturalists with the Naturists; “Off the Beat” covered or, rather, uncovered the naturists last summer. They were also accessible, helpful, welcoming, and wonderful – but with a different focus.)

President Bob Grajewski confirmed that the Naturalists Club’s Saturday morning birdsong classes will be happening in May and are open to the public (naturalistsclub.org). “They are birding hikes with extra emphasis on bird songs,” he says. “All the locations are good and the Upper Lisle location can be an excellent spot for warbler migration if the timing is right.”

This is great, because birds sing mostly in the spring when they are looking to attract mates. The rest of the time they “call,” which usually isn’t as liquid and pretty. An ornithologist once told me that birds have no sense of smell but they certainly have excellent hearing and sight. They can spot things like a tiny line extending from an eye, or a subtle color on a rump (yes, it’s called a “rump”) that clues them in to choose the right guy or gal with whom to help preserve the population.

You can learn to spot those things too, or just enjoy a day outside, finally released into warm weather. Plenty of stuff to do nearby for the casual dabbler, budding birder, or experienced enthusiast. Check at audubon.org/audubon-near-you?state=NY. Be uncool!