Bill Thompson III

Birds may stop by a place where they see other birds (that's why ducks check out a pond with decoys), but if that spot doesn't supply their needs (food, water, shelter, a place to breed), they move on. What you're looking for is a place with a lot of different kinds of birds and an element of surprise: where odd birds sometimes show up, far from their normal haunts.

Shiny, clanky, commercially available bird feeders have a lot going for them. First and foremost, they keep the seed fresh and dry. It can be snowing like mad, covering up your bird table and ground feeding area in seconds, and a good hanging feeder will still be calmly dispensing seed to the hungry. Commercial feeders come in three basic types: hopper, tube, and satellite.

In the world of bird watching, a field trip is defined as going afield — that is, beyond your immediate home surroundings or backyard to observe birds. For many beginning bird watchers, their first organized field trip is with a bird club. This field trip can be an educational experience as you observe how other bird watchers act in the field, how they spot and identify birds, and where they go to find birds.