In an ideal world we would all own top-of-the-line spotting scopes and we would have unlimited resources to go birding. Sadly, we don’t have an ideal world; budgets can be tight and can seemingly hinder our ability to participate in our favorite activity.
All is not lost! Birding can easily be done on a budget. Opportunities to bird with little or no money surround you!
Start in your back yard and in your neighborhood especially during Spring migration. You’d be surprised at the variety of species that will stop by your home to rest during their long journey. Many of the birds may only be there for a couple of hours or days, so be sure to check frequently. Make sure you supply fresh water daily to provide added incentive for the birds to stay a while. We all love to go see the birds, but having a bird grace your yard with its presence is a special treat. You’ve been chosen!
It might be difficult to believe, but parking lots are often wonderful birding opportunities. I have found several lifers in grocery store parking lots. Keep your eyes peeled every time you have errands to run and give yourself a few extra minutes to look around. You never know what you’ll find!
Another local and inexpensive resource is the park system. Many state, county and city parks have free bird watching programs. For the low cost of admission, you’ll often have the benefit of expert birders and spotting scopes, not to mention superb habitat.
Finally, don’t forget your local Audubon society. With nearby field trips, these birding enthusiasts will be happy to show you fantastic birding areas that are often overlooked from cemeteries to rock quarries.
One of the best things about birding is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. Anyone, anywhere can go bird watching!
All is not lost! Birding can easily be done on a budget. Opportunities to bird with little or no money surround you!
Start in your back yard and in your neighborhood especially during Spring migration. You’d be surprised at the variety of species that will stop by your home to rest during their long journey. Many of the birds may only be there for a couple of hours or days, so be sure to check frequently. Make sure you supply fresh water daily to provide added incentive for the birds to stay a while. We all love to go see the birds, but having a bird grace your yard with its presence is a special treat. You’ve been chosen!
It might be difficult to believe, but parking lots are often wonderful birding opportunities. I have found several lifers in grocery store parking lots. Keep your eyes peeled every time you have errands to run and give yourself a few extra minutes to look around. You never know what you’ll find!
Another local and inexpensive resource is the park system. Many state, county and city parks have free bird watching programs. For the low cost of admission, you’ll often have the benefit of expert birders and spotting scopes, not to mention superb habitat.
Finally, don’t forget your local Audubon society. With nearby field trips, these birding enthusiasts will be happy to show you fantastic birding areas that are often overlooked from cemeteries to rock quarries.
One of the best things about birding is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. Anyone, anywhere can go bird watching!
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