Guides for new birders: first steps, what the numbers on binoculars mean, logging sightings in eBird, and joining community bird counts.
All pages in Getting started and citizen science
How to start birdingSeven first steps, what 8x42 and other binocular numbers mean, field guides and apps, eBird basics, finding an Audubon chapter or club, and the ABA ethics code.Binocular specs explainedExit pupil, twilight factor, field of view, close focus, eye relief, prisms, coatings and waterproofing, with a spec calculator. No product picks.eBird for beginnersStationary vs Traveling vs Incidental checklists, effort fields, counting, complete lists, flagged records, and how to read bar charts and Targets to plan.Great Backyard Bird CountFebruary 12–15, 2027: what the count is, how to join in 15 minutes with Merlin or eBird, counting rules, 2026 results and a checklist.Christmas Bird CountDecember 14 to January 5: how Audubon's count began in 1900, how circles, compilers and feeder watchers work, and how to join the 2026–27 count for free.Project FeederWatchNovember 1 to April 30: how the Cornell Lab and Birds Canada winter feeder count works, from count sites and two-day counts to the $18 US fee and what the data show.