Bird watching is soaring

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Bird watching is soaring in popularity. In fact, about 85 million Americans enjoy observing, photographing or feeding wild birds, making it the 15th most popular outdoor activity.

Part of its popularity might be due to the ease and low cost of participating.

“It’s a really easy hobby to get into,” said Brandon Burger of the Backyard Bird Shop in Vancouver. 

You can start with a simple $15 tube feeder and a sack of black oil sunflower seeds. 

“It’s like the Field of Dreams (movie), if you build it they will come,” Burger said.

It’s also a great way to get in touch with nature without having to leave home, said Burger. Many people are too busy to get out of the city often. 

“It’s a great way to bring nature into the yard,” he said.

Identifying birds starts with noticing their basic features – the size of the bird, the shape of their beak, and “of course, color is a big thing,” according to Burger. A brightly colored bird is easier to identify, but there are many types of brown birds, and other features help to narrow the possibilities. 

Noticing the bird’s habits is helpful, too, such as where they feed or what kind of feeder they like. Once you have a basic idea of the bird’s type, you can find them in the bird guide.

A good pair of binoculars helps to hone in on those small details. And good isn’t always more powerful; for bird watching, the best binoculars is a 6 or 8 power magnification, with a 30 to 42mm front lens (which dictates its light gathering capability). Look for numbers like “8 x 32” or “10 x 42”. 

Birdfeeders are probably the easiest way to enjoy watching birds in your backyard. There are a variety of feeder styles, and feeds to fill them with, and each attracts different types of birds. “When you put seed up you can expect to see quite a diversification (of birds visiting your yard),” Burger said.

Many people like to attract colorful songbirds, such as the American Goldfinch, which prefers to dine on Niger thistle or Pine siskin.

A feeder hung at 4 to 5 feet high and filled with sunflower seeds and thistle will attract the widest variety of seed-eating birds, Burger said. White proso millet and cracked corn, in a ground or tray feeder set 3 feet or lower, attracts sparrows, towhees and junkos.

Red millet is a common filler in lower-priced “grocery store blends” of bird seed, but it is designed as a generic feed for the entire country, and birds in the Pacific Northwest don’t like it.

Plantings can also draw birds to the backyard. Thrushes such as robins and the orange-breasted varied thrush love berries and Oregon grape. They also eat earthworms; busy birds can signify a healthy lawn full with a thriving population of worms.

While you are attracting birds, think about keeping them safe from predators such as cats. Set low feeders in open areas at least 5 feet away from bushes that can conceal predators.

Several opportunities to learn more about bird watching are coming up in Clark County. 



On Saturday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to noon, Columbia Springs in Vancouver will host a Backyard Birding Workshop taught by a volunteer from the Audubon Society. 

Columbia Springs is situated near the Columbia River and encompasses several lakes, so a wide diversity of birds visit the 100-acre site, said Erik Horngren, workshop coordinator at Columbia Springs. Visitors might see water-loving birds like herons, kingfisher, or cormorants, a wide variety of ducks, many types of backyard songbirds, and even birds of prey like hawks and osprey.

“It’s a chance for people to get outside, to learn about a place they can come any time,” Horngren said. 

Some binoculars and birding guides will be available for participants to use, and people are encouraged to bring their camera if they would like. Each household who attends the workshop will receive a free bird house for chickadees.

All ages are welcome, including children accompanied by an adult. Portions of the walk will be accessible to mobility devices, including one ADA-approved viewing deck. Registration for the class is required, and there is no fee but an optional $5 donation is suggested.

Columbia Springs is located at 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy., Vancouver. For questions, call (360) 882-0936, ext. 224 or email workshops@columbiasprings.org.

On Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, Wildlife Botanical Gardens will host “Pacific NW Common Bird Identification,” presented by Brandon Burger of the Backyard Bird Shop. 

The idea for the class came from her own desire to recognize the birds who frequent the garden, said Marlene Dellsy, administrative assistant for Wildlife Botanical Gardens. 

“I got tired of not knowing what bird I’m looking at,” Dellsy said. “I thought, if I’m that dense, maybe other people are, too.”

Dellsy is hoping to learn where to begin when identifying birds – whether to zero in on the color, the size or the shape of the beak, and how to look them up in a bird guide.

Knowing how to attract and protect birds in the backyard is part of that learning.

“I had a squirrel problem at one time, and I found out there is food that has pepper sprayed on it,” Dellsy said. “Birds don’t taste it but squirrels can taste it and don’t like it.”

The Wildlife Botanical Gardens’ purpose is to promote backyard wildlife and introduce people to nature, and there are bird feeders placed throughout the garden. The class will include a classroom talk as well as field time identifying birds in the garden.

Registration is $15 or free for members of the Wildlife Botanical Gardens. The event is open to all ages, including children accompanied by an adult. Pathways in the garden are level with a mix of gravel and wood chip footing, and are accessible for some mobility devices.

Wildlife Botanical Gardens is located at the CASEE Center, Building B, Room 205, 11104 NE 149th St., Brush Prairie. To register for the class, email info@naturescaping.org or call (360) 737-1160.