Donna L. Long

The Earth is Good.

Menu Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Presentations
    • Events
    • Gardening Bonuses
  • Resources
    • Blogging Tips – A No Nonsense Guide
    • Nature Journaling
      • Pinterest Nature Journals
      • Nature Almanac Archive
    • Seasons: Table of Contents
      • Nature in Spring: Table of Contents
      • Nature in Summer: Table of Contents
      • Nature in Autumn: Table of Contents
      • Winter Article Index
      • Nature Almanac: Month by Month
    • Philadelphia Nature: An Overview
      • Basic Information on Philadelphia Nature
      • Natural Places in the Philadelphia Area
      • Native Plants of Pennsylvania – Links and Plant Lists
      • Books about Native Plants and Ecological Gardening
    • Plants: Table of Contents
    • Animals: Resources and Links
      • Insects: Table of Contents
      • Birds: Table of Contents
      • Butterflies: Table of Contents
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Contact
  • Facebook

Category: Birding Basics

How to begin birding or improve your bird watching skills. Learn about the birding year, and identifying species, learn life cycle and behavior.

For beginning birders, what birders are doing, how they know things, and when to bird watch are mysteries. Hopefully, the information provided here can clear up those questions.

Dark-eyed Junco (junco hyemalis) in my garden.
November 11October 31 Donna L. Long

Attracting Dark-eyed Juncos: A Winter Feeder Bird

juvenile red tailed hawk
August 19August 19 Donna L. Long

How to Spot Birds of Prey (Raptors): A Birder’s Guide

August 12August 10 Donna L. Long

Shorebirds: Birding Tips

Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) in Donna's Garden
July 15July 10 Donna L. Long

Trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans (L.) Attracts Hummingbirds

White Columbine blossom
April 29August 3 Donna L. Long

Earth Day: We Sing Together

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia). Photo courtesy Pennsylvania Game Commission/Joe Kosack.
April 1March 22 Donna L. Long

Spring Warbler Photo Gallery

American Crow perched in a tree
February 4February 3 Donna L. Long

Raven or Crow? Listening Maybe the Only Answer (with Videos)

Closeup of Great Horned Owl
January 7January 7 Donna L. Long

Owl Prowl: Great Horned Owls

American Crow in grain field.
December 3February 10 Donna L. Long

American Crows

birds_raptors_raptor beak
November 19November 30 Donna L. Long

What Do Raptors (Birds of Prey) Eat?

male mallard duck in eclipse plumage
July 23October 28 Donna L. Long

Confusing Summer Eclipse Plumage of Waterfowl

Setophaga_ruticilla_American_redstart_male
July 9July 9 Donna L. Long

American Redstart

Female Ruby-Throated hummingbird
July 2July 2 Donna L. Long

Attracting Hummingbirds

female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
June 18October 28 Donna L. Long

Birding: The Best Posts

Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) walking on the beach
May 21October 31 Donna L. Long

Keeping a Life List or Birder’s Journal

Setophaga_ruticilla_American_redstart_male
May 7October 28 Donna L. Long

Spring Warblers – Birding Tips and Techniques

Red-breasted_Nuthatch_(Sitta_canadensis)5 By pbonenfant [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
April 23July 13 Donna L. Long

Birdhouses: Choosing, Maintaining, and Attracting Birds

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
April 16November 30 Donna L. Long

What are Neotropical Migrants? (A Beginning Birder’s Guide)

robin in grassy lawn
March 12October 28 Donna L. Long

Robins, Worms, and Rain

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
March 5December 13 Donna L. Long

Spring Birding and Nature Journal Prompts

2022_great_backyard_bird_count
February 17January 2 Donna L. Long

The Great Backyard Bird Count

American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
February 12March 9 Donna L. Long

Arctic Birds that Visit in Winter (with video)

By Minette Layne (Flickr: [1]) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
February 5October 28 Donna L. Long

Common Winter Birds Across North America

graphic_bird_starling
January 15November 30 Donna L. Long

Starling Murmurations: How to Find One and When to Watch (with video)

male Northern Cardinal with a peanut in his mouth
January 8November 30 Donna L. Long

Project FeederWatch Info, Tips, and Nature Journaling Ideas

abandoned bird nest
December 18December 13 Donna L. Long

Finding Abandoned Bird Nests

wood duck Aix sponsa
October 2November 30 Donna L. Long

Waterfowl Migration in Autumn

duck_Male_Bufflehead_taking_off
September 25October 28 Donna L. Long

What is the Difference Between Ducks, Swans, and Geese?

Cedar Waxwings eating a shadbush berry.
June 5March 27 Donna L. Long

Attracting Cedar Waxwings to Your Backyard

birds_female ruby throated hummingbird
April 10November 30 Donna L. Long

Past Posts on Birding and Attracting Birds

Posts navigation

Older posts

Subscribe

Receive weekly doses of Earthy goodness.

Contents

Animals Attracting birds Autumn Backyard habitats Bird ID Birding Basics Butterfly ID Butterfly Watching Field Trips How Earth Works Land Ethics Native Plant Garden Plans Native Plants Native Plant Sales Nature Almanac Nature and Garden Guides Nature Journal Basics Nature Journal Prompts Nature Photography News Philadelphia Natural Places Photo Galleries Seasons Spring Summer Sustainable Living Tips for Naturalists Winter

Tips for Naturalists

  • Nature Journal Basics
  • Choosing a Hand Lens
  • Choosing Binoculars
  • Choosing Field Guides
  • Identifying Raptors: Choosing Field Guides
  • The Nature Journal
  • Nature Journal Prompts
  • Best Books for Nature Journal Keeping
  • Keeping a Life List
  • Simplicity for the Naturalists

My Latest Guide

cover nature journal prompts guide

A Guide to Butterfly Life

butterfly life cover color with border

For the Amateur Naturalist

cover_Grinnell Scientific Nature Journal
Grinnell Scientific Nature Journal

A Seasonal Gardener’s Guide

A Seasonal Gardener's Handbook, Revised edition by Donna L. Long.
A Seasonal Gardener's Handbook, Revised edition by Donna L. Long.

Top Posts & Pages

  • Choosing a Hand Lens for Nature Study
  • Nature Almanac for December 2023
  • Cavity Nesters: Birds that Use Holes in Trees
  • Identifying Backyard Mammals: A Photo Gallery
  • Nature in Winter: An Overview
  • Starling Murmurations: How to Find One and When to Watch (with video)

Our Community

  • TheDogGod
  • gingerwithknife
  • ohioken
  • Jill Kavanagh
  • Kris Naylor
  • Donna L. Long
  • belcharm
  • Amy Roell
  • Bernie Kasper
  • Patty
  • omarhopkins
  • pickblackberries
  • hedgewitchadventures
  • Bobbie H. Guth
  • James paul Austin
  • hirenkhambhayta
  • Chronosfer2.wordpress.com
  • thebulldogbreeder23
  • Patsy Heavner
  • Sebastian
  • Tony
  • woj
  • Carolyn Duckworth
  • Dee
  • sienablue
  • Debs
  • Hannes van Eeden
  • jxie5
  • Sebastian
  • bren2699
  • carladail
  • Denise
  • Startup Insider
  • 1 SIGFRIDSSON
  • Marian C Fritzemeier
  • june
  • Qwia Ap Wazzy
  • Sebastian
  • Kucia Kodes
  • KitKat
  • lynniecoffey
  • Dragon Queen
  • strategyninja2023
  • Madhuchhanda Karlekar
  • Denzil
  • Caitlín Matthews
  • Carolyn Friedman
  • legendsfeedback1233
  • damnpixie
  • Wanda Parks

My motto

Don’t wait for the revolution. Live it.

Penstemon barbatus
Penstemon barbatus native utah to Mexico. Photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Legal Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Disclaimers
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
Powered by WordPress.com.
 

Loading Comments...