Birdwatching: Three things you need for it - and tips 

Created: 07/13/2022, 08:00

Birds roam our gardens all year round looking for food and water.

You can find out how to observe the animals here.

Summer is here and nature is ablaze with all colours, and birds can often be found in gardens and forests.

The right time of year to observe the feathered contemporaries.

Conservation biologist Leander Khil, author of the book “Unsere Vogelwelt”, is an expert on this.

In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the photographer gives advice on where and when to meet the animals and what equipment is needed.

How and where is the best place to watch birds?

With a bit of luck, you can watch birds rearing their young (symbol image).

© Alimdi/Imago

Leander Khil: You can observe birds (almost) anytime and anywhere, because there are birds on all continents and in every season.

There are also exciting discoveries to be made in your own garden or in large city parks.

What time of year is the best for bird watching?

Khil: Spring is a particularly good time because birds now draw attention to themselves through song and courtship behavior and are easy to spot.

In addition, many species are in their brightly colored plumage and many migratory birds that have not been with us over the winter are returning from the south.

Do you need specific equipment?

Khil: The two most important items are binoculars and a field guide.

There are also many useful apps for smartphones that make the experience even better.

For example to determine, voice recognition or to report sightings on observation platforms.

What mistakes should hobby ornithologists avoid?

Khil: Not being patient.

Not every bird can be identified in the same way.

Initially, many bird calls sound similar and it takes a while before the closely related species can be distinguished.

But within these challenges lies the appeal of bird watching.

What helps in identifying individual species?

Khil: There are proven identification guides and apps for the birds of Europe.

When possible, however, I recommend works that are tailored to a smaller area, such as just a single country, as they can accommodate more detailed information about the distribution of each bird species.

How to attract birds in the garden

Khil: It's best to leave a "wild corner" for plants to grow and bloom.

This attracts insects on which birds feed, fruits and berries are eaten in autumn and winter.

Caves are formed in dead branches, which are used for breeding and sleeping.

Nesting aids create additional breeding space, and birds can be observed excellently at the feeding station and drinking trough.

You can find even more exciting gardening topics in our free newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.

Is climate change affecting biodiversity?

Khil: Birds are excellent indicators that show climate change in many ways.

Many migratory birds come back to us earlier and leave later.

Individuals – who flew to Africa in their entirety just a few decades ago – now overwinter here, some species lay eggs earlier or breed more often.

These are adaptations to milder and shorter winters.

Mountain birds have to climb higher and higher to find the cool areas that suit them.

For high mountain species, such as rock ptarmigan or snow sparrow, the habitat becomes smaller because some mountains are no longer high or cold enough for their requirements.

Is there anything wrong with feeding birds yourself?

Khil: There's nothing wrong with feeding birds, even during breeding season.

It has been shown that summer feeding can increase the breeding success of many species.

Since the adult birds use the food offered to meet their own nutritional needs.

This leaves more of the insects they collect for the chicks to survive on and more young birds.

In any case, it is important to feed in such a way that the birds cannot soil the feed with faeces.

This prevents germs from spreading via the feeding stations.

For example, feed silos are suitable for this, where the birds cannot sit in the feed.