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New York Times
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
Happiness Doesn't Have to Be a Heavy Lift
I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, both by the news and by a bit of life stuff. I wish I could retreat to a mountaintop, but my more realistic plan is to seek out the smallest possible things I can do each day to give myself a lift. Every morning, for instance, I open my Merlin Bird ID app to see if any new birds have shown up in my backyard. (This morning I learned about a Northern Flicker, a bird I did not know existed.) Micro-moments of positivity like this really can improve your well-being, said Barbara Fredrickson, director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even though these moments are fleeting, she said, they can 'act as nutrients for psychological health and growth, helping you become a better version of yourself, little by little.' Her research, and that of others, suggests that recognizing, cultivating and savoring these bits of happiness builds well-being, resilience and resourcefulness. I asked experts how to incorporate more low-lift, bare-minimum pleasures into your life. 'A pet peeve is something small that disproportionately annoys you,' said Bree Groff, author of the upcoming book 'Today Was Fun.' In contrast, she said, 'a 'reverse pet peeve' is something small that brings you disproportionate joy.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
How to become a birder: 10 easy ways to start this life-changing hobby
I'm assured this is a big deal: on the far side of a field in Thetford, separated from me by a gate, there is a stone-curlew. Jon Carter, from the British Trust for Ornithology, patiently directs my binoculars up, down and past patches of grass until my gaze lands on an austere-looking, long-legged brown bird. 'Quite a rare bird,' Carter says, pleased. 'Very much a bird of the Breckland.' As a very beginner birder, I'll have to take his word for that. My interest was sparked early this summer when a friend introduced me to Merlin Bird ID. Developed at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, the app records birdsong and uses artificial intelligence to identify particular species – like Shazam for birds. Merlin has added a new dimension to my walks, sharpening my awareness of wildlife I'd ordinarily have tuned out. I can now identify one bird by song alone (the chiffchaff – it helpfully says its name). Having surged through the pandemic, birding may be taking off once more. Merlin has recently been shouted out on the ultra-cool NTS radio station and on Instagram by Sarah Jessica Parker, while The Residence, the recent Netflix whodunnit from Shonda Rhimes' production company, features a birdwatching detective. Birding not only gets you outdoors and moving, but engages you in nature; both benefit mental and physical health. A 2022 study found that everyday encounters with birdlife were associated with lasting improvements in mental wellbeing. Even simply hearing birdsong can be restorative. But how do you go from noticing birds to becoming a full-blown birder? Carter and other experts took me under their wings. Carter is leading me through the BTO's Nunnery Lakes reserve, just south of Thetford in Norfolk. Sixty species of birds breed here between March and August, and more stop over. In just 20 minutes, we spot a dozen or so, including a charming family of great crested grebes. Many birders practise 'patch birding', focusing their entire practice on just the one area, Carter tells me: 'It's quite addictive.' He discovered birding aged 11, when his family moved close to the RSPB's Leighton Moss nature reserve in coastal Lancashire. 'Suddenly, birds became the absolute focus.' But even urban areas teem with birdlife. Nadeem Perera, an RSPB ambassador and co-founder of the birding community Flock Together, got hooked after spotting a green woodpecker in a suburban London cemetery. 'I couldn't get over how strikingly beautiful this bird was, and moreover, that it was on my doorstep,' he says. At the time, Perera was 15 and had just dropped out of school. He was feeling hopeless and disengaged. The woodpecker represented hope and possibility. 'All I knew was that being exposed to birds in their natural environments made me feel good – so I kept on going.' Fifteen years later, Perera can confidently identify most birdsong in London. With more than 600 bird species recorded in the UK, Carter suggests starting with those you're most likely to encounter locally. A field guide such as Collins Bird Guide is the best way to familiarise yourself with different types of birds and helpful vocabulary. By learning a little about the taxonomies – and what distinguishes, say, a passerine (perching bird) from a petrel (seabird) – 'you very quickly learn how to describe the birds you see,' Carter says. But don't feel pressure to become an expert, he adds. 'People can just enjoy being in nature because it's valid and valuable.' Amy Tan, the bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club, became a 'back yard birder' in 2016, following Donald Trump's election. 'It was so depressing – I needed to find beauty again in the world,' she says. At the time, Tan was 64. Birding brought her calm and a refreshed perspective, 'getting distracting and distressing elements out of my head so I could continue with my day'. Soon she became 'obsessed' with birds; at one point, she even stored live mealworms in her fridge. In her book The Backyard Bird Chronicles (a US bestseller, to be published in the UK in August), Tan captures her visitors with whimsical descriptions and drawings. She can now identify more than 70 species – but that knowledge came gradually, she says. 'If you take on too much at once, it's overwhelming, and then you just don't want to do it any more.' Naming birds 'does not have to be a criteria' to enjoy them, she adds. 'It's a very democratic hobby, or passion – or obsession.' Technology can be a gateway to green spaces, as demonstrated by my experience with Merlin Bird ID. It's useful for engaging young people in particular in the natural world, Carter agrees – and perhaps more realistic than urging them to leave their phones at home. The Collins Bird Guide is also available as an app for on-the-go referral (though most birders seem to use the app alongside the hard copy, since the book is easier to browse). Carter also recommends the BTO's free app BirdTrack, which allows users to record their sightings, review those of others, and contribute to research. Some people prefer eBird, which, like Merlin, comes from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Though apps can augment birders' experience in the field, they can also distract from it. Carter says Merlin is best used in addition to your own instincts and identifications, rather than as a replacement – not least because 'it's not 100% accurate'. And by immediately reaching for the app to ID a bird sighting or song, you also risk skipping over steps that would make that knowledge stick or feel earned. I have now started using Merlin only after making my best guess as to what species I'm hearing. I am usually wrong (unless it's a chiffchaff) – but I feel as if I'm training my ear. Birding requires patience, which is at odds with our on-demand culture, Perera points out. That's 'one of the great things' about it – but it can be a tough adjustment. 'This isn't Netflix. There's every chance that you will see nothing. Then you realise: 'Oh, wow, the world actually doesn't happen on my terms,'' he says. 'It humbles your ego a little bit. But it makes you very appreciative of those magical moments when you do see the bird that you're after.' Birding is a widely accessible, even generally free pastime – 'but if you want to do it to a certain standard, you need to buy a pair of binoculars,' Carter says. As a one-off expense, it's worth putting in the time to find a pair that suits your purposes (and ideally try before you buy). Magnification is not the only consideration, Carter says; some have a brighter picture, but might be less sharp. Weight and size are also important. 'It's about finding ones that feel right in your hand.' Premium-brand 'bins', such as Leica and Zeiss, go for more than £1,000. (An AI-assisted pair made by Swarovski – yes, like the crystal – will set you back £3,695.) Budget models have come a long way, but Carter warns against scrimping: 'You're not going to get anything under £150 or £200 that's even really useful. But once you've got it, you're done.' Think of it as an investment, echoes Sam Walker of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) charity. 'You don't have to spend thousands, but it's really key. Even if it's just a small pair of field binoculars, they're going to set you up for decades into the future.' He suggests buying top brands secondhand, available at a fifth or even a tenth of the price of new. Walker's own binoculars and telescope are probably more than 10 years old, 'but it's still great-quality glass'. Birding is often a solitary pursuit, but it doesn't have to be. 'It's a more social hobby than you'd think,' says Walker. He got into birding six years ago when he started working at the WWT, and says the best way to learn is by going out with people with more experience. 'It's much easier to identify birds and retain information, because you've got others there to bounce ideas off. I'm always really keen to not be sat in a bird hide, on my own, in the dark.' Nature reserves and organisations such as the BTO and the RSPB put on birding walks, talks, training courses and events. Joining a local bird club is also a great way to meet like-minded people. Birding may still be dominated by older, white men – but that is changing. The BTO and RSPB both have youth wings, while groups such as Birds & the Belles and Birding for All are working to make the pastime more inclusive. Perera and Ollie Olanipekun co-founded Flock Together in 2020, as a 'birdwatching club for Black and brown people'. Five years on, it holds monthly birdwatching walks and has chapters in Tokyo, Toronto and New York. 'Don't let anybody intimidate you, or make you feel as though you don't belong,' says Perera, who is of Sri Lankan and Jamaican heritage. 'They're just scared that you're going to be better at it than them.' Birders love to log their sightings: the most common records are 'year lists', covering the calendar year, and 'life lists' that include everything. Walker's 2025 list is currently at 130 species, sighted around his Gloucestershire home – but he knows birders with life lists tallying 600-plus. 'You can imagine the amount of time and money that they've spent travelling around.' Many birdwatchers will go to great lengths to secure rare spots. 'It just adds a little bit of magic sparkle to your birding year, and builds up that life list as well.' But even patch-birders, focused on their local area, can get a bit obsessive about trying to catch 'em all, Walker admits. 'People get worried about going away on holiday.' While some structure or system can support your developing hobby, Carter discourages being too focused on outcomes. 'I've seen quite a few young people get into the rarity, list-building thing.' Earlier this month, a Pallas's reed bunting was spotted on Fair Isle in the Shetlands – only the fifth sighting recorded since 1976. Though the bird itself is small and unshowy, excitement levels were high: 'A mostly monochrome masterpiece, this was the stuff of birding legend,' wrote the Rare Bird Alert newsletter. Carter recalls: 'straight away, people were trying to figure out if they could get charter flights, whether there were any boats running …' He advises slowing down. 'Take your time; learn to really love birds.' Tan decries some birdwatchers' elitism, and dismissal of common species. 'They'll call a starling or sparrow a 'junk bird'; I think that's horrible.' She approaches birding as a practice of observation, and even mindfulness. 'You can start noticing what a bird is doing – these ordinary behaviours that we don't always pay attention to.' Tan also studies the pecking order playing out at her feeders. 'Trying to decipher the relationships – that's part of the fun,' she says. Drawing each bird pushes her to focus on easily missed details such as bill shape or foot colour, and 'the way that each individual bird is actually constructed'. Keeping a journal or a diary (as The Backyard Bird Chronicles began) helps 'anchor' her practice, Tan says. 'It's a good brain exercise, if you're a writer, but also just for remembering the things that made your life so meaningful and joyful.' Once you're familiar with your patch and its regulars, you can start attuning yourself to seasonal variations. Many migratory birds arrive in the UK during the spring, staying for the summer and leaving just as winter visitors are descending. The time of day and the weather affect sightings, too. Birdlife is typically most active at dawn and dusk. While rain can worsen visibility and make some species less active, it enlivens others and causes them to fly closer to the ground, making them easier to spot. Strong onshore winds can blow seabirds towards the coast from open water, and cause migratory species from North America, Europe or Asia to make a pit stop on British shores. Just a short drive or train ride can transport you to a different habitat hosting unfamiliar species, Walker says. 'Even in London, you can get out to heathland or down to the coast.' The eBird and BirdTrack apps, alerting on recent sightings and particular hotspots, can give you a sense of what to look for – but in general, Walker says, 'being out and always birding is the best place to be'. As well as offering an escape from screens, work and day-to-day stresses, birding can deepen your investment in nature. You might notice the changing climate in your area, or get involved in local efforts to protect green spaces. 'It connects you to it, so you care about it, and you're concerned when someone wants to fill in your local pond or build a road through woodland,' says Carter. You can contribute to science and conservation efforts by logging sightings on BirdTrack, adding to a national database of 'what's where and when'. The BTO also conducts regular projects and surveys – of wetland birds, breeding birds or garden birds – involving thousands of volunteers each year. Even beginners can play a part, says Carter. 'Every record is of some value: if you identify only half the birds you saw, that half is still really useful. You don't have to be an expert in telling one weird wader apart from another weird wader – there are always people who are good at that.' The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan is published in the UK by Corsair (£20) on 7 August
Scientific American
28-04-2025
- Scientific American
Bird Migration Is Peaking in the U.S.—Here's How to Watch
2 min read The spectacle of spring bird migration is in full swing, and you can get in on the action The spring migration of birds from their southern wintering grounds to their breeding grounds in the North is about to reach a fever pitch. Over the next few weeks, most of the U.S. is heading into peak migration, when hundreds of millions of birds can wing their way across the sky in a single night on a mission to claim a prime bit of real estate, attract a suitable mate and get to work raising the next generation. For bird-watchers, this is the most thrilling time of the year. Why Bird Migration Is Interesting Many of these migratory birds travel vast distances between their winter and summer homes, taking advantage of seasonal abundances in food and daylight. The Blackpoll Warbler, a songbird that weighs about as much as a AAA battery, travels as many as 5,000 miles to reach its breeding grounds. The Red Knot, a stout shorebird with an orange-pink breast, may journey nearly twice that distance, sometimes covering more than 600 miles in a single day. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. The birds are now looking extra snazzy—bright and glossy, dressed to impress in their breeding plumage. Colorful, shiny feathers can signal good health to potential mates. And birdsong is once again filling the air as birds tune up and start belting it out to flirt and defend their territories. How to Watch Dazzling Birds Birds are everywhere—look for them in your yard, your local park, the cemetery down the road, the grocery store parking lot. Get outside early if you can; birds tend to be most active in the morning. For a closer look at their beautiful colors, patterns and other details, use binoculars. A field guide can help you figure out which species you're observing— The Sibley Guide to Birds is especially good and is available as an app. Another guide in app form is Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It has a nifty feature that can help you identify birds by their songs and calls. If you want to participate in a community science project, you can enter your observations into Cornell's eBird database. Learn More about Birds Spring is not only a perfect time for veteran bird-watchers to spy an elusive species. The availability of amazing technology means that even a novice can easily identify and learn about the birds they observe. There's birding, and then there's extreme birding. Follow a team of competitive birders as they race to track down as many bird species as they can over the course of 24 hours. People often wonder about the link between dinosaurs and birds. Here you can learn about how, over millions of years, evolution forged small, flight-capable birds with feathers and wings from nonavian dinosaurs.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The One Tool Every New Birder Needs to Get Started
Julie and I love watching birds. We each have a pair of binoculars. Our backyard comprises two to four feeders throughout the year. The Big Year is one of my favorite films. We also spend considerable time looking for birds when traveling to national and state parks. Although we enjoy birdwatching, we are novices. Our most common question is, "What's that bird?" Yes, we have serious challenges with identifying birds. We use binoculars and a field guide, but it is not always enough. If you are new to birding or struggle to identify birds like us, I have good news for you. We found a tool that is a complete game changer. There is no more embarrassment or frustration. Birding is fun as it should be! Merlin Bird ID is an app that helps new and experienced birdwatchers identify birds. It was designed by a team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology based on the question, "What's that bird?" The app utilizes eBird, a global database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos, to quickly and accurately help users identify birds. For those who may question the accuracy or viability of the app, the database includes billions of bird sightings reported by birders worldwide. Why do we like Merlin Bird ID so much? Any free tool is a welcome relief in a world of inflation and increasing prices. The app does so much in this case that it feels like an absolute steal. Often, when people say something is easy to use, I struggle with the technology. I assure you Merlin Bird ID is user-friendly. If I can use it, anyone can. Seriously, it is one of the few apps I can use without Julie's assistance. Do you have a photo of a bird but can't positively identify it online or with a field guide? Upload the image to Merlin Bird ID and let it go to work. It will identify your bird or display the most likely species in seconds. Julie and I have utilized this feature many times. Even with less-than-ideal-quality photos, the app offered accurate suggestions. While I enjoy listening to birds sing, I recognize very few birdcalls. Merlin has a slick feature that allows you to record the sounds around you and then identify the birds. Many times, multiple birds make their presence known at the same time. The app highlights birds in yellow during their call, clearly distinguishing one bird from another. We love this feature and rely heavily on it. Julie and I sometimes use the sound ID feature as a starting point to see what birds are in the area. If something new appears, we use binoculars to locate the bird. I can't tell you how often birds have darted away immediately after I point in their direction or finally scope them in my binoculars. Birds are fast and shifty. As soon as you spot them, they move. That is why I love the "Step by Step" ID feature. If you don't have a photo, you can answer a few simple questions and get instant suggestions. Input your location, date, size of the bird, its primary colors, and observed behavior. I was shocked at how accurate and useful the feature was. While the date and location are easy questions, I was worried the other questions may be difficult. The app makes the process simple, even for rookie birders like us. Merlin uses a visual representation for size, asking you to compare your bird to a sparrow, robin, crow, or goose. You can choose up to three main colors. The final observed behavior question is also simple: select if you saw the bird: Eating at a feeder Swimming or wading On the ground In trees or bushes On a fence or wire Soaring or flying We have input these variables many times with great success. The process is easy and gratifying. Going to a remote location where you may lose your internet connection? No problem. Merlin Bird ID has offline functionality. Before going offline, set your location so you can still accurately identify birds by either photo or sound ID. You can also download bird packs by region for an even higher confidence level of accurate identification when you are offline. Want to learn more about birds in your area? Merlin displays species that are likely in your area today. You can click on any bird to view more images or listen to its calls. The app includes other helpful tips and range maps. Julie and I love these additional features. Males and females often display different colors. Juveniles may present differently as well. Plus, birds use various calls to communicate. With access to multiple photos and audio recordings, you can learn a lot about a species and significantly improve your chances of identification. Bird enthusiasts often track their sightings for the year and/or maintain a life list. Although Julie and I are not "doing a big year," we now have a life list thanks to Merlin. It is a fun way to track all the species we have spotted. When you see or hear a new species, you can note the date and location. Merlin then includes a blue check mark by the species to indicate the bird is on your life list. Anything without the blue check is a new species for you. Any time you want to view your digital scrapbook, click on the life list option in the app. You can then see the total number and an image of every species on your life list. Like the explore features, you can tap on any bird to see pictures, hear sounds, and obtain information. Birds are everywhere. You can start from your window, in your backyard, or at your local park. From there, expand to nearby forests and bodies of water. Then, include birdwatching as an activity on your travels. Use Merlin Bird ID to help identify birds and track your sightings. You can download it from the App Store or on Google Play. Search for "Merlin Bird ID" to find the app. While Merlin helps you identify birds, gaining close views of our feathered friends is nice. To accomplish this, get a decent pair of binoculars. Many birders prefer 8x42 or similarly sized optics because they are bright and have a wide field of view without being too heavy. Look for binoculars that are waterproof and lightweight. You do not have to break the bank; binoculars make a huge difference in seeing birds and enjoying the activity. Amazon offers reasonably priced birding binoculars, perfect for beginners. Slowly learn bird calls by starting with a few common birds in your local area. Then, slowly add new species by understanding their calls. Wear neutral colors, avoid loud noises, and move slowly to avoid spooking the birds. Birds are often more active and vocal early in the morning. Depending on the birds you hope to spot, visit habitats like forests, open fields, and wetlands. Places like Indiana Dunes National Park, which comprise multiple habitats, can be very productive for birdwatching. Serious birders tell us that birding is like meditation. Be patient and enjoy the quiet moments. Sightings often occur in spurts. Bring the birds to you by adding a feeder to your yard. It is an excellent way to learn about different bird species and to gain close views. Most importantly, enjoy watching our feathered friends and have fun!
New York Times
21-04-2025
- New York Times
How to Bird-Watch: A Traveler's Guide
According to a survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 96 million Americans are bird-watchers, or 37 percent of the population aged 16 and above. Most observe from home, but 43 million have traveled a mile or more to go birding. Amy Tan, author of the book 'The Backyard Bird Chronicles,' knows why. 'Birds are some of the most magical animals on earth,' Ms. Tan said. 'They fly, they sing crazy beautiful songs, they have amazing navigational systems that feel the magnetic force of the universe and guide themselves by the sun and the moon.' Because birding can be done almost anywhere and requires little gear, it's an easy activity to pick up and a practice suitable to many trips. Here's how to get started. Bird-watching requires observing not just a bird's appearance but its behavior. 'Is it quick, slow, frenetic, soaring or staying in the underbrush?' said Nate Swick, the education and digital content coordinator for the nonprofit American Birding Association and the author of 'The Beginner's Guide to Birding.' 'Those are clues as much as colors and patterns.' Most experts suggest starting in your backyard or neighborhood park and learning the local resident birds to refine your birding skills before you take them on the road. In the digital age, apps have made birding easier than paging through field guides by offering step-by-step processes that narrow down a list of possible birds or identify a bird by its song. The free app Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology does both. Also free, the Audubon Bird Guide app from the nonprofit conservation group uses visual input to identify birds and displays a tally of birds seen. Both apps allow the user to search according to geographical area so they are handy for travelers, and both can be used offline. Binoculars are graded by two sets of numbers, such as 8x30, explained Chris Harbard, the president of the Southwest Wings birding festival in Sierra Vista, Ariz., who has worked as a birding expert for Silversea Cruises. The first number indicates the degree of magnification. As the magnification number gets larger, so does the size of the set, making them harder to carry and hold steady. The second number relates to the diameter in millimeters of the lens at the larger end of the binoculars. The bigger the number, the more light the lens admits, making the image you see brighter and clearer. While mini travel binoculars provide some magnification, Mr. Harbard recommended starting with 8x30 or 8x32, which are not too bulky to pack, though choosing the right set is an individual choice. Good starter binoculars are estimated to run about $200 to $250. Make sure they have rain covers for the eyepieces and look for binoculars that are labeled 'sealed' or 'nitrogen filled,' which prevents moisture from condensing inside the lenses. If birders often look like they could be on safari, there's a reason. 'You don't want to stand out to a bird,' Mr. Harbard said, noting anything bright and light like white or yellow are conspicuous. 'If you are not seen, you will see a lot of birds.' Birders should wear comfortable shoes that allow them to stand or walk for long periods. Make sure they are closed-toed in places like the tropics where your feet can be vulnerable to insect bites. Carry a backpack with a waterproof or warm layer, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray and water. Birding can be part of nearly any journey. Travelers can look up chapters of Audubon to find area events like bird walks or use a website like Birding Pal to find local birders and volunteer guides (annual subscriptions, $10). 'There are opportunities in every state to visit birding hot spots or trails, which are collections of good birding spots,' said Brooke Bateman, the senior director of climate and community science for Audubon. Birding trails such as the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail often present opportunities for convenient road-trip routes. Traveling to witness a migration — such as the warblers that visit northwest Ohio each spring, an event celebrated as the Biggest Week in American Birding festival — can reduce the risk of disappointment inherent in wildlife watching. 'Birding can be like fishing sometimes; you never know exactly what you're going to get and it can be slow,' said Mr. Swick of the A.B.A. 'But migrations are more of a guarantee.' Birding-specific trips offer opportunities to see specific or rare species, from snowy owls in Minnesota to resplendent quetzals in Costa Rica. 'The tropics is where diversity is at,' said Kathi Borgmann, an ornithologist and the communications manager at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, highlighting the band around the Equator. In a place like Mindo, Ecuador, she added, birders might see 50 to 100 species in a day. Birding trips often specify the degree of physical activity required. Naturalist Journeys, a tour company specializing in birding and nature, has trips at 'a birder's pace' and more active ones labeled 'humming along.' Expect an early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule. On its website, the birding-focused tour company Wings publishes a guideline on what to expect, including possible pre-breakfast birding walks, walking for up to six hours a day and taking a midday break in warmer climates. 'Birding makes anywhere you go special,' said Mr. Swick. 'Like local food, local birds are distinct.'
