BIRD-WATCHING FOR BEGINNERS Why May Is the Best Month to Start
EDUCATE YOURSELF Thousands of species of birds span all corners of the globe. That’s why finding them is an exciting prospect — there’s no end to the hunt! Start by researching birds that are native to your location. Purchase a field guide with pictures of each bird and maps of their range and use it to figure out where different birds live. From there, it’s easy to pick your first spotting goal. You can even get yourself extra excited by watching a few bird documentaries. GEAR UP One of the best things about birding is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to do it. As long as you’ve got your field guide and comfortable walking shoes, the only other thing you’ll need is a pair of binoculars. And they don’t have to be fancy. As long as they can zoom in on faraway trees and perches, they’ll work for now. You can always upgrade later.
GO EXPLORING Your very first birding excursion is
important because you don’t want to be overwhelmed or underwhelmed. So use your field guide to home in on a single bird and go find it. It may be local, or you can plan a trip to a specific bird’s natural habitat. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by other species. The thrill that comes with spotting your first bird will keep you coming back to find the rest. Bird-watching is a wonderful hobby because it’s easy to get started and can last a lifetime. As long as you can walk, drive, or look out a window, you can be a birder. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find some birds!
Bird-watching is like a lifelong scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere on Earth. The activity provides a mixture of science, travel, and beauty, and it’s a chance to get outside for feathered adventures and quiet reflection. The month of May is a great time of year to go birding because rising temperatures prompt spring migration. So if you’re eager to begin bird-watching, there’s no better time than now. Here are some tips to get started.
Disney’s Partnership With the Conservation Fund When they’re not busy owning everything you watched as a child, Disney is actually making some pretty cool efforts to help preserve natural environments around the world through the massive media company’s work with the
Conservation Fund. Founded in 1985, the Conservation Fund’s unique approach to environmental preservation and economic development has earned them acclaim from activists over the past 35 years — as well as some very high-profile partners, like Disney. When business organizations partner with the Conservation Fund, they can accomplish a number of missions that ultimately benefit the environment and their partner organizations. Disney began partnering with the Conservation Fund back in 2009 in order to reach their own company goal of producing (net) zero emissions. In order to make up for the carbon emissions they produce, Disney strives to protect and restore forests in Northern California. To date, they have been incredibly successful in doing so. The coastal forests of Northern California are known worldwide for their iconic redwoods. After decades of timber harvests, however, those iconic environments faced certain degradation. Trees disappeared and streams became clogged with sediment, impeding the journeys of endangered salmon and steelhead trout. With Disney’s help, the Fund became the first nonprofit to own and operate a large and working forest. Disney and the Fund have consequently been able to decrease
timber harvests and widen riverfront buffers for harvesting, among other things, to help preserve these incredible forests. Disney’s work with the Conservation Fund shows it’s not just obscure startups and nonprofits fighting to preserve the environment in the face of climate change. When you have the funds and drive of the House of Mouse, protecting natural environments for future generations seems that much more feasible.
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