Birdwatching is a great hobby. It gets you outdoors, so you get plenty of exercise in the fresh air while enjoying your hobby at the same time. And it gets you closer to nature. In order to have the best time, however, there are a few birding necessities that you should consider.
To be prepared to spend the day outdoors with your bird friends, you’ll need the following minimum supplies:
- You’ll want to have a sunscreen with a minimum of 15 SPF. This will give you at least moderate protection from the sun. If you’ll be outdoors longer, go for an SPF of 30+.
- Water. Spending lots of time hiking while outdoors can very easily lead to water loss which can lead to dehydration. Take a canteen or bottled water. Drink lots of water before you start your hike and take periodic sips along the way.
- Insect repellant. If you want the best possible protection against mosquitoes, bugs, and all sorts of other annoying insects, apply the insect repellant to both your skin and your clothing, according to the label instructions.
- Footwear. Because you will probably be walking and hiking a great deal, you will want to have a pair of the most comfortable boots possible. Also, if there’s the possibility that you will be trekking through marsh or extremely damp conditions, you should probably take along a pair of knee-high rubber boots.
- Rain gear. Weather conditions can change at the drop of a hat so it pays to be prepared for possible rainfalls. A lightweight, waterproof, breathable piece of rainwear could be indispensable.
- Snacks. The treats aren’t for the birds, they’re for you. Find some high energy store bought or home made granola bars, fruits, and nuts and you’ll be good to go.
Hopefully you will survive your first bird outing. If you do and you believe that this is something that you will be doing again, then the manufactures of birding supplies will love you as you will undoubtedly be back in their stores to buy cameras, recorders, and other higher priced items in preparation for your next trip.
Find more articles by Ken Lawless regarding bird house patterns / plans, wood birdhouses, and blue bird houses at his website.