--For dummies

Includes index

Foreword -- Introduction -- Part 1: Watching birds--a natural habit. Birds and the people who love them -- Tools that take you up close and personal -- Identifying birds ("If it walks like a duck . . .") -- Taxonomy and nomenclature -- Watching bird behavior -- Bird sounds : news and entertainment -- Part 2: Backyard bird watching. Making a bird-friendly yard -- Bird feeding : the start of it all -- Gardening for the bird -- Part 3: Bird sighting 101: using your tools. Binoculars and how to use them -- Choosing and using field guides -- Writing it down -- Part 4: Beyond the backyard. Migration : when birds and birders get moving -- Taking a field trip -- Birding by habitat -- Birding hotspots -- Birding tours : on site with a pro -- Festivals and other events -- Part 5: Once you're hooked. Birding that makes a difference -- Bird photography -- Advanced bird ID -- Part 6: The part of tens. Ten ways to help save birds -- Ten frequently asked questions about birds

"Bird Watching For Dummies is a spark book, teaching you all you need to know about this fun, affordable, and accessible hobby. It gently guides as you explore your local habitats, learn to recognize more and more species, and reap the many mental health benefits of connecting to the outdoors and all the wonders it holds. This book gets you started, teaching you how to identify birds by sight and sound, find birdwatching hotspots, and get the birds to come to your own backyard. You'll learn about the latest gear, the best field guides and online apps that will jump-start your bird identification skills"--