Interested in birding but don’t know how to start?
Go for a bird walk!
Join us for a bird walk at a local park. Beginners are always welcome. Bring a pair of binoculars and your sense of adventure - depending on the park you visit and the season, you might be lucky enough to see anything from tundra swans and bald eagles, to woodcocks and wood warblers.
There are also many knowledgeable birders who will be happy to help you get started and give you advice. And any birder will tell you - there’s nothing like actually getting out there!
You can also download this FREE digital picture book on local birds by Florence McBride in English or in Spanish!
Find out where to go birding!
Northern Virginia is home to a wide variety of bird habitats and both resident and migratory bird populations. You can check out your local park, or find great birding locations using Virginia Birding Trails. This site, maintained by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, provides information on the birding spots and driving directions. Our area falls into the Coastal and Piedmont Regions.
You can also explore local birding hotspots using eBird’s Explore Regions feature. Enter the county and find information on species, hotspots, recent visits by birders reporting to eBird, and an illustrated checklist.
You can go bird watching even if you don’t have a car. Some eBird hotspots accessible by public transportation are listed here.
Take a class or go on a field trip!
Be sure to sign up for a beginning birding workshop through our education program. ASNV classes and workshops also cover bird families such as warblers, shorebirds or raptors. We also offer occasional field trips outside Northern Virginia.
Bird your backyard!
Get to know your local backyard birds really well. A bird feeder is a good way to attract birds to your home and give you more opportunities for observing them at closer range. You might be surprised at the number of different bird species that come to visit if you put out the right kinds of foods.
The Internet has a wealth of information - on types of seed, feeder locations, discouraging squirrels, and more. Check these:
You also can attract birds by creating a habitat that provides birds with needed food, water, and shelter. Our Audubon at Home program can provide you with information and advice on “naturescaping,” including native plants, water management, and reducing your use of pesticides.
Bird houses provide nesting sites and shelter and can also help you bring birds into your yard. One size does not fit all, however – a nest box meant for a house wren won’t be good for a screech owl – and you will want to do some planning to make sure you are providing the right kind of nest box and situating it appropriately for the birds you’d like to invite in. Here are some online resources:
Please remember to clean your feeders and birdhouses regularly to avoid spreading diseases in the bird population.
Looking to Introduce Young People to Birding?
New: Young Birding Program in Loudoun by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
Check out the Northern Virginia Teen Birding Club.
You can download this FREE digital picture book on local birds intended for young people by Florence McBride in English or in Spanish!
Find an unusual or banded bird?
If you have ever wondered who you can tell about an unusual bird you have seen or want keep track of the birds you see regularly, there are a number of sites that can help.
You can use The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird database. The Virginia section, which has information specific to the Commonwealth, can be found here. And you can create your own free eBird account and enter your own sightings.
You can report bird sightings to a list serve maintained by the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Sign up here. The Virginia Society of Ornithology keeps records for the entire state.
If you want to report a banded bird, you can do so at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's North American Bird Banding Program here.
Resources for Observing Birds and Other Wildlife
Checklists
Following are PDF checklists of wildlife that live in northern Virginia and the surrounding area. Take one with you when you are on a walk.
In-depth instructions on how to use ASNV’s bird checklists, as well as information on the process for developing and updating these lists, are available here.
Field Guides and Apps
A field guide is an essential tool for identifying birds and other wildlife. Today field guides are available as phone apps, websites, and printed books.
Article about Field Guides and Apps from the National Audubon Society
Merlin is a free bird ID app for your phone from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
eBird has a free phone app for recording bird sightings, also from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. eBird also provides a variety of tools for exploring birding hotspots, rare bird sightings, and much more.
iNaturalist is a free phone app for identifying and sharing information about birds, butterflies, plants and many other natural critters. iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.
Audubon Bird Guide: North America is a free field guide phone app.
All About Birds is the Cornell Lab's online field guide.
Guía de Aves de América del Norte is Audubon’s online field guide in Spanish.
Northern Virginia Butterflies and Skippers by Robert Blakney is a field guide to butterflies in our area.
Nova Dragonflies and Damselflies by Robert Blakney is a field guide to dragonflies and damselflies in our area.
Local Bird Stores
The many bird stores in our area, including the ones below, can also give you information and advice on feeders and nest boxes.