The Art of Bird Finding: Before You ID Them, You Have to See Them

Birding is all about finding and identifying birds. Plenty has been written about the last part of that equation, the identification step. But what about finding the birds? Sure, there are bird-finding guides that tell you where and when to go and what birds you can expect there. But what happens when you get there? You can’t simply drive up to a birding hotspot, pull out the site’s checklist, and add all the birds found thereon to your life list. No, you still have to find the birds that are supposedly there. In The Art of Bird Finding, Pete Dunne explains just how to do that.

He starts with our innate bird-detecting skills. The good news is that even the most bumbling and oblivious among us is still a “bird-finding machine”. We just need to be aware of this built-in ability, hone it, and intentionally bring it to bear on our surroundings.

Next up are some fundamental principles. Dunne covers everything from how to look to how to walk to what to wear. Some of these are (or should be) common sense, and you may have read some elsewhere (i.e. don’t wear white). But others will likely be new to you, such as some great tips on how to approach birds more closely. Most of the things covered are general in nature, but a few are quite specific, such as how to see a Sprague’s Pipit.

Of course, no book about finding birds would be complete without a discussion of seasonality and weather systems, so Dunne dutifully covers these things as well, especially how they impact migration (fallout!). Finally, the author gives a brief introduction to finding birds on new horizons: hawkwatching and pelagic trips. I particularly appreciate the latter, where Dunne tells how to look for seabirds and even where to position yourself on the boat.

The Art of Bird Finding is a small book, but contains just about everything you could want to know on the subject. The only thing I thought was missing was a more detailed explanation of how to forecast migration and interpret weather maps (similar to this). Oh, and an index would have been nice.

Some parts of this book may be familiar to long-time readers of Dunne, as they are based upon topics he has covered in previous articles and books, especially Pete Dunne on Bird Watching. Actually, this (as well as The Art of Pishing) feels like a supplement to that wonderful birding instructional guide. But that’s not a bad thing.

With Dunne penning it, there is no danger of this book being dull or dry. His trademark wit makes this a fun, as well as informative, read.

Recommendation

The Art of Bird Finding admirably fills a gapping hole in the birding literature. While even experts will likely learn a thing or two from Dunne, this is highly recommended to beginner and intermediate birders. Well, only if they want to find more birds.