EDITOR'S NOTE: The following feature offers valuable insights into the hobby of birdwatching. Birding, as it's known by aficionados, is one of the best ways of getting into the woods and learning about nature.

Frankfort, Kentucky – Approximately one million Kentuckians enjoy bird watching, according to the latest survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Now is the perfect time of year to take up this hobby as resident birds are nesting and migrating species are making their way back from their wintering areas.

"Birds are so readily accessible," said Danny Watson, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "You don't have to travel far to find them."

Bird watchers can enjoy the hobby around their homes, at local parks, wildlife management areas (WMAs), state forests or even cemeteries open to the public. Bird watching is relatively inexpensive and requires little equipment.    

"The skills that are required to do it are simple," Watson said. "A pair of binoculars, a field guide and a little bit of direction from a knowledgeable birder are enough to get you started."

Watson recommends beginning birders invest in a pair of binoculars with quality optics. Spending a bit more on an above-average pair of binoculars can increase your success.

"Crisp, clear focus is the most important thing, because of the detail that you might need to see on a bird to identify it," Watson said.

Once you have chosen a pair of binoculars, you will need to find a good field guide to help identify birds in your area. The Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds is the most popular field guide and a good place to start. Familiarize yourself with the layout of your field guide before you go bird watching. Birds are organized by family groups, not alphabetically.

"One of the best tools that a beginner can develop is how to identify birds by song," said Watson. He recommends beginners get a CD to learn the songs of birds in this area. The Peterson Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern and Central North America is one popular CD.

Once you have binoculars and a field guide, it's time to go bird watching. Dawn and dusk find birds most active. However, Watson recommends beginners not go out right at daylight.

"For a beginner, the amount of song at that time of day is intimidating," he said. "It's difficult to pick up the individual songs. At 7 or 7:30, they have a tendency to slow down a bit."

Bird watchers should be careful to practice good etiquette both towards birds and other watchers. Wear drab colors such as khaki, camouflage or olive drab. Bright red, for example, can alarm birds and cause them to flush. Talk in a whisper if you need to communicate, so you don't scare birds away. Do not disturb nesting birds or eggs in a nest. Leave pets at home.

 "When you see a bird, help others find it. Pass on your skills," said Watson. ?If you are on public land, share information about what you've observed with resource managers such as park rangers or WMA managers. Always ask permission to access private property, and thank the landowner.

There are many resources available to beginning bird watchers. Ornithological Societies and local chapters of the National Audubon Society sponsor events and provide information for beginners. State Wildlife Education Centers periodically offer bird watching events as well.

Hayley Lynch is an award-winning writer for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. She is an avid hunter and shotgun shooter.