Birdwatching at night

October 8, 2021

 

Birdwatching is an opportunity to hear and even see the birds that live in the forest during the day. But not all birds are active during the daytime. Many species wake up and hunt as the sun sets below the horizon. Watching them is much more interesting, and every visit to the forest is like an adventure! What are the benefits of night birding, what do you need during the expedition and is this type of activity popular in the USA?

What is birdwatching?
Birdwatching is the skill to observe the birds without showing your presence. If you come to the forest in the early morning, you will enjoy the wonderful “Dawn Chorus,” in which all the daytime birds take part. But there is another type of birdwatching – at night. Let's say you can't bring yourself to get out of bed at 4 am, pack your equipment, and head out to the forest. Then the second type of birding is just for you.
With the onset of darkness, nocturnal birds fly out of their shelters – woodcocks, kiwis, kakapos, and others. But the biggest reward for a night birdwatcher is owls and their full-voiced "hoo-hoo," which can be heard only dead at night.

How night vision can boost the birdwatching
What do you think you need for night birdwatching? Not only courage and a strong desire to see rare birds, but also good equipment. It is dark in the forest at night, and if there are tall trees and thick bushes, you can hardly see even the paths in there. Going empty-handed, you would stand on the edge of the forest and hear those birds that accidentally flew by.
The word “equipment” means night vision devices. Skeptics, don’t smile, are expensive, and modern models are also very compact. By taking night vision optics on the expedition, you can hear the voices of birds and see them and navigate the terrain.
First, consider what kind of night vision devices you should have with you:
Yes, you will have to pay 200-300 dollars for it, but what is the money compared to the pleasure of watching the birds!

• Binocular. This device is convenient because it can have great magnification and be used in any situation. Even in the most uncomfortable position, with the help of binocular, you can easily see birds, their nests, flight routes, and many other interesting things that happen in the forest. Night vision binocular is usually hit, dust, and water-resistant, so you don't need to worry that your accessory will be damaged if you drop it in the water or hit a stone in the dark.


• Monocular. A device for those who cannot or do not want to spend a lot of money on NV equipment. The night vision monocular is a handy little thing. Some models are so small that they can be carried in a jacket pocket. It has only one eyepiece, so you have to look through it with one eye. When using a monocular, you can move in the dark and easily track the object. You can buy such a device for $100-200.

The night vision device shows the image in real-time without delay, so you will notice every movement and not miss a single bird. There will be enough starlight or moonlight for it to operate. Some models use infrared illumination, which cannot be seen with the naked eye and does not frighten birds.
Night vision technology uses the principle of image enhancement. First, the lenses capture all the light from the surrounding space. Then they send it to the image intensifier tube where the light amplifies several hundred times. At the finish, the user sees a clear image in his eyepieces. Night vision manufacturers even sell models which can see in complete darkness, so using them, you can get to the most difficult places where the unique species usually live.
If you have eyesight problems, the night vision technology will not cause any discomfort. The image in NV devices is usually green or amber. These colors don't tire the eyes, so you can use your device as much as you like. Green relaxes the eyes, while yellow makes the outlines of objects as clear as possible.
Birdwatching in the US
The history of birdwatching USA starts in 19 century, but at that moment, scientists were interested only in the life and habits of songbirds. Gradually it turned into the real art of observing the birds and got a large number of fans. But the 20-21 quarantine made birding extremely popular – you have the opportunity to spend time usefully and better discover the nature around your house. It will be enough to have a park or forest nearby and good optics. Today, in the United States are 61 national parks, 562 nature refuges, and about 40 wetland districts. This does not count all the large and small parks in every city and town of the country. Therefore bird-lovers have where to go and what to see. There are 46-60 million birders in America today, and this number is growing.

Owls are the most interesting birds for watchers. Their wide variety can be seen in two states:

• California. This state has become home to such owls: Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Western Screech Owl, Burrowing Owl, and Great Grey Owl.
• Texas. Owls are found here and some species of other nocturnal birds: Barred Owl, Nightjars, and Nighthawks.

The most popular spots for watching birds in the United States are:

• Southeastern Arizona. The region has 24 hotspots and the best time to visit them is from April to September. Here you will see Trogon, Painted Redstart, Gray Hawk, Mexican Jay, and more.
• Florida J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This place attracts over 300 species of birds and has large forests and swamps. The beauty of nature and fantastic landscapes also attracts birders – about 800,000 people visit this place every year. The best time for birdwatching is from December to April. Mangrove Cuckoo, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, White Ibis, ducks live here.
• Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It is located close to the airport, and not every bird-lover might think that over 330 species live here! The peak of activity is from April to May, but birdwatching in this area is interesting all year round. This place is home to Snow Goose, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, Osprey, Clapper Rail, owls.
• Lucky Peak (Shaw Mountain) State Park in Idaho. This is one of the most beautiful birdwatching spots. There is a big lake and mountains. Here you can observe birds all year round. Lucky Peak is home to short-eared owls and other predators.

Big year
A Big year is a competition for birdwatchers. It aims to see or hear as many bird species as possible. The competition can take place in any location – it can be one state, a nature refuge, a region in a particular state, or the whole world! Over the entire history of the competition, 840 species of birds were counted in 48 states of America. If you decide to take part in Big Year, you need to be well prepared. Only a beginner may think that such a challenge is simple – look through binoculars and note the species you see. Experienced birders who have taken part in more than one competition recommend:

• Explore the area in advance, if possible.
• Find out in what period the maximum number of species flies there so that you have time to see all of them.
• Be ready to spend a lot of money and time. But this is only if you have these resources and you are determined to win. And remember, winning or even participation in such a competition requires good equipment for both day and night observation. If you are not ready to spend money on constant moving from place to place in rare bird searching, allow yourself good optics.

Whether you are a beginner, hobbyist, or avid bird-lover, keep these things in mind during your expedition:

• Hide. In summer, you can wear camouflage, and if there is snow around – a white coat and pants.
• Camera. Of course, you will want to snap a photo of a beautiful or rare bird. Not all birds are afraid of flashes. Some sit still on a branch and allow you to make shots.
• Protection. It can be a knife or a gun. Remember, birds, hares, squirrels live in the forest, wolves, wild boars, and coyotes. Perhaps some of them will not like you.
• Food and water. Birders often change locations and walk a lot. Therefore, you must have a supply of provisions.

Don't go night birdwatching alone unless you have enough experience. Better take a friend with you – it's safer and more fun.