It can be intimidating to be the new guest in a birding group, but compassionate, friendly birders can welcome a newcomer into their flock with ease if they remember what it was like when they were birding newbies themselves.

Types of New Birders

There are roughly 10,000 bird species in the world, and there are just about as many different types of birders of different ages, experience levels and particular interests.


Not every beginning birder is a complete novice, and understanding the different ways a birder could be "new" can help more experienced birders provide better guidance and assistance for everyone to enjoy birds.

• Beginning Birder: A true new birder may have only recently seen their spark bird and is just getting started in this hobby. They may not yet recognize even the most common backyard birds, and they will need practice with all aspects of birding, including where and when to find birds, basic identification and good birding etiquette.
   
• Regionally New: Even a birder with years of experience can feel like a novice if they move to a new area with new habitats and vastly different bird species. A birder who has always lived in California, for example, will be amazed at the different birds they see in Florida, whether they are relocating across the country or just visiting.
   
• Developing New Skills: Over time, experienced birders may wish to refine their skills with different aspects of birding, and as they work on a new skill, they can feel like novices again. This may happen when a veteran birder decides to get started with bird photography, or when a birder diligently works to sharpen their birding by ear skills.
   

• Returning to the Hobby: An older birder may have been very experienced and enthusiastic about birds in their youth, but didn't have the time or opportunity for birding for many years since. When they return to birding, it can seem like a whole new world with updated field guides and new equipment to learn.

While age, gender, race and ethnicity are no factors for how experienced a birder may be, all new birders share the same enthusiasm for birds that expert birders have. What matters most is that every birder remembers that they were once new birders as well, and takes steps to help new birders discover just how amazing birding can be.

10 Best Ways to Help a New Birder

There are many easy ways to help new birders, no matter what their experience level or what part of birding interests them most.

1. Be Welcoming: Saying hello, introducing yourself and making a new birder feel welcome is a great way to help them feel comfortable in a new birding group. Ask how long they've been birding or what their favorite bird is, and get to know them.
    
2. Share Willingly: New birders don't always have the latest guide or the best optics, and sharing your equipment with them will help them learn what options are available to equip their birding. Offer recommendations if they ask for help as well.
    
3. Instructive Identifications: There's no greater thrill in birding than identifying a new species, and it's important to help new birders sharpen their identification skills rather than just telling them what each species is. Point out diagnostic markings and other clues for them to learn.
    
4. Offer Resources: If a birder is interested in learning more, offer a range of resources they can use both in the field and at home to be a better birder. This includes sharing websites, noting where bird supply stores are or inviting them to join a birding club.
    
5. Here's a Hotspot: A birder who is new to the area or who hasn't been birding long won't know all the little hidey-hole hotspots where great birds can be seen. Share those locations willingly, letting them know when the best times to see what species may be.
    
6. Bird on Target: Many new birders have target birds they hope to see, and if you know where they have a good opportunity to see those birds, share that information or offer to help them find that new lifer. Every new bird is a new spark of enthusiasm to keep birders excited.
    
7. Exceptional Ethics: Always practice good birding ethics, particularly when new birders may observe your behavior and emulate your ways. This includes how you act around rare birds, how you may or may not use bird recordings and meeting your backyard birding responsibilities.
    
8. Let Them Lead: Discovery is a huge part of the birding fun, and allowing new birders to discover their passion on their own is important. Let them ask for help and be willing to provide answers, but don't push your way into their birding or require them to do things your way.
    
9. Keep in Touch: Keep new birders interested by inviting them to birding club meetings or contacting them when you are planning a quick birding walk to see if they'd like to join you, particularly if you will be visiting a new-to-them spot or finding a new lifer they'd enjoy.
    
10. Remember Your Novice Days: The best thing experienced birders can do to help newcomers is to remember their own birding beginnings, including the different mistakes and faux pas they made, and even to share those stories with new birders. This will help everyone be more patient and develop lasting friendships.

Birding is a hobby anyone can do for a lifetime, but no matter how long you have or haven't been birding there is always someone newer to birding than you are. By taking steps to welcome and help newcomers, it's easy to make more birding friends - feathered or not.

Photo – Happy Birder © Joyce cory