Birders can find new exciting species to observe even in the midst of the largest cities. For example, where I booked a room at a New York Cheap Hotel, Central Park is home to more than 150 species of birds throughout the entire year. I was fortunate enough to pack the right equipment to help me with my birding project.

I’m a recreational birder, so I only needed a few basic birding supplies in order to find birds on my trip. I brought binoculars, a compact, portable pair which helped me easily observe birds no matter where I was. A field guide tucked into my field jacket. A notebook so I could take quick notes on all the species I observed so I can compare and do a positive identification. I found a simple digital camera to be valuable for capturing birding observations quickly and easily so the species could be identified later on without interrupting any other plans I had. I could’ve brought more extensive equipment, like a multiple guides, a fully-equipped field bag or a spotting scope, but they really weren’t necessary for my casual birding vacation.

I knew when to spot birds effectively which increased my chances of finding a new or unusual species during my vacation. The very early morning hours, before any business activity begins, is one of the best times to observe birds feeding and preening after a long night. Later in the afternoon is another feeding time and taking an hour or two for casual birding was a welcome break from my structured vacation itinerary. Plus, putting in a few extra hours into my schedule helped too, like while at the beach, I not only built sand castles, I observed gulls and other shore birds. At the zoo, I visited the aviary and I contacted a birding organization prior to travelling to get tips on the best hot spots.  All of this made my birding a pleasure.

New York Birding is a post from: T For Travel

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