An expert shares tips for birding in the Miami Valley

Birdwatching is a fun, inexpensive hobby for individuals, couples and families, as well as a great excuse to visit the Miami Valley’s parks and trails—and the passionate, thriving birding community is welcoming to newcomers.  

If you’re curious about the birds you see and hear while out and about in the Dayton area, you may want to give birding a try. Here, Ned Keller from the Audubon Society of Ohio shares some tips for those who are interested in starting out as birders. 

Have the Right Equipment 

You don’t need much to get started as a birder. If you’re planning to leave your backyard, binoculars are a must-have, but you can get a pair of decent quality without breaking the bank. For beginners, Keller recommends finding a pair on the cheaper end, like the Audubon Society-recommended Tasco Essentials. 

To start identifying birds, you’ll also need a field guide, like the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America. You can also skip the book and download the National Audubon Society app—though looking at birds on a small phone screen may make them harder to identify.  

Get Outside 

The MetroParks system offers a number of locations to observe birds in various habitat types, from woodland to prairie. Englewood Park and the Aullwood Audubon Center are great places to start, but your local park will also have plenty of offer—just pack some water and your binoculars and get out on the trail. 

Your birding journey can also begin in your own backyard. Install a bird feeder and keep it well-stocked—you’ll get long, uninterrupted looks at the birds that come to visit.  

Get Connected 

Connect with the Dayton chapter of the National Audubon Society on Facebook or check the Aullwood Audubon Center website for upcoming events, including weekly Thursday morning discovery walks for members. 

For those who are just starting out, Keller recommends becoming involved with the local community and talking to experienced birders. If there’s one mistake new birders make, it’s not being willing to ask for help. 

“There are a whole lot of people in the birding community who are willing to help,” he says. 

For many, birding can become a lifelong passion. 

“Just go out and do it,” Keller says. “Get those binoculars, even cheap ones, and look at birds and get curious about them. You can just keep going with this hobby forever.”