Bird Lists, Birding Notebook, Nature Journal …… Should you record what you see? Does it matter?
Journaling. There is a big push for journaling these days. Classes are being offered just about everywhere. Everything from scrapbooking to having a beautifully bound notebook in which to write. But as most of you know – journaling is not new at all. Ever since people invented materials to write on and with, they have kept journals. Diaries. A written record of their lives. Descriptions of days lived, expenses, dreams, celebrations, problems, devastations. There is nothing new at all in this except the enormous amount of materials now available in so many stores and online with which to journal. A lot of money can be spent before the first word is ever written.
Do you keep a record of birds you see? Bird walks or hikes you take? Birding trips or tours? And if you do, how do you do it?
I used to carry a daypack with a spiral-bound notebook and at least two pens – I have had them run out of ink at the most inopportune times! I carried a field guide or two, water, and a snack. Now that I am older, Cleon and I take shorter walks – generally within a mile or so of our car. We also do a lot of birding from our car or we drive to places where we can get out and lean against the car, and using the hood and windshield to hold our field guides. The car is now almost as important as our binoculars! We miss hiking – we spent a lifetime hiking and backpacking together – but we find that we enjoy birding just as much now as when we were trekking miles to remote areas to see what was there.
When my walk or ride through a wildlife refuge is over, I always take a lot of time to sit down with my field guides, my spiral notebook, and enlarge on what I have seen. Look things up in my field guide and make notes. Sometimes I connect what I have just seen to what I have seen other places at other times. I add notes about the day’s weather, the conditions of the trail or drive, and any thing else that interests me. I often count deer or list other animals like snakes, box turtles, dragonflies, and butterflies. I list trees and interesting plants. Afterall, this notebook is only for me. and I will admit, if there is excellent ice cream nearby, I definitely note the location! I also use this notebook to write down my thoughts as I walk along or sit on a rock. Phrases. Observations. And I will sketch from time to time. A scene – particularly a place that is quiet and with which I connect. so I can look back on my drawing and remember. And somehow, drawing works better for this than a photo. Always keep in mind it does not matter whether or not you think you can draw or whether or not your handwriting or printing is legible – this is for you – only for you. And with practice, you will become better at everything – birding, writing, drawing.
I have always kept a birding notebook which for me, is almost like a travel journal or diary. When I go birding, I always write down the date and time, the place, and the weather. I describe the habitat. I list the birds; what they are doing; and I list male, female, juvenile. When I cannot ID a bird, I write a description of physical traits and behavior. Sometimes I make a simple drawing to note where a physical trait was.
Along with all this, I also listed good places for me to eat – especially ice cream! – and if this was a trip, then good overnight places to stay. If I liked a birding place, in the ensuing years, I often went back several times.
From the very beginning of my birding life, I found I was not as interested in how many birds I could list, but what it was they were doing. And it soon became apparent to me that if a habitat was healthy, then certain birds would most likely be there – and if they were not, then why not? And if there was an absence of certain birds over a period of time, does that indicate a problem in the habitat?
Are life lists beneficial? I think they are, but I also think they are not necessary. It is your decision. You do not even have to keep a list of any kind to enjoy observing birds, but lists do help you learn and remember. When I bird early in the morning, I have always had at least my notebook with me and I jot down everything I see – including interesting animals, insects and plants. When I stop for lunch – or late breakfast – I always have my notebook and field guides spread out over the table, looking up what I have seen. Today when I am out birding, sometimes I have my cell phone with me and sometimes I do not. If I do, I keep the ringer off and do not answer any calls or texts. I look nothing up. But I do have the Merlin app on to record the songs and calls (click on this link for more information: Merlin App and Its Sound ID.
From Susan who is sharing her journal entries with all of us:
I have said to myself for a while that I was going to start journaling. Gives me a reason to stop the rat race and get in a space that gives me peace and enjoyment. I have taken a few workshops here and there but once again it is taking the time to do it. So last fall I signed up for a nature journaling workshop through the Wild Wonder Foundation and took quite a few classes. I find the classes not only give me ideas but sort of the courage to do it with the idea that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Sure, they teach techniques but also some ideas for page layouts and different approaches to journaling. I have done a little with water colors and hope to get more comfortable using them. I like to go out to my nature cabin and journal where it is so peaceful with no distractions other than birdsong. John Muir Laws heads the Wild Wonder Foundation and has written several books about journaling. Some words of wisdom from him which I really took to heart. Most of journaling is putting in the “pencil miles”. Which he defines as the time in the field observing, wondering and drawing. He also advised not to go out and purchase a lot of expensive art materials. Claiming you probably have everything you need to get started. I am 
using some Crayola colored pencils that probably belonged to my kids 20 years ago. They work just fine. I decided that I would draw the Bird of the Day from the Merlin App for the entire month of July. Couple of things I gained, learned more about the bird and my drawing skills have really improved. And, most importantly, it was fun. I decided to just draw their heads and am working myself up to drawing entire birds. No matter how busy the day was I could find the time to draw the head. Drew mostly males because of their colors but now that can be another project drawing the drab females, what a challenge.
Susan, you put that so eloquently – and I agree with everything you said. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us! Whether or not to keep lists or a journal is all up to you. The point is to get out into nature and enjoy yourself! And to appreciate what fascinating creatures live there – and of course for me, the ones that head that list are birds!
As I mentioned in the caption of the first photo, Susan heads up a small birding group – SSR. The Second Saturday Regulars. There are generally about 7-15 people who come the second Saturday of each month and they bird all over Macon, Piatt, and DeWitt Counties in central Illinois. They are early birds themselves as all walks begin at 7AM in spring, summer, and most of fall, and at 8AM in the winter. The walks last 1 hour. Everyone is welcome – even if this is just your first day of birding. I have gone several times and this is a friendly, welcoming group. If you would like more information, please email me at: lindahendricksspence@birdingbeyondthefieldguide.com