I was lucky to grow up in a household of scientists because there were a few constants that I could always rely on. First, is if I ever saw a bug (either in the house or out) I could show it to my dad and get a free identification as well as a lecture on its history. The second was that we always had a set of binoculars and The Sibley Guide to Birds at our back window. Many times at dinner, mid-bite, my mom or dad would suddenly get up to grab the binoculars and identify a bird at the feeder. While it interrupted dinner, it was always a fun family experience, and it introduced me to the wonderful world of birding.

I’d argue that birding is one of the most rewarding as well as accessible hobbies out there. Of course, you can get fancy with it, travel to a popular birding spot, armed with a pair of binoculars and bird guide in hand but in reality, all you need is a view of the outdoors and a little bit of patience for a bird to come your way. When I first started my birding adventures, I was really only able to identify the common Robin and Cardinal, but with each correct identification I felt a sense of accomplishment that made me want to know more. Even better with an easy access to the internet, identifying a bird is as quick as snapping a photo or typing in a few descriptions. Starting to bird can be as simple as just looking out of a window and getting familiar with the birds that fly by. While I still love backyard birding, for this project I wanted to take a bit more of a field trip.

All of these waterfowl photos were taken at the Baylands Nature Preserve, which is located in Palo Alto and Mountain View. According to the City of Palo Alto, this preserve is one of the largest areas of undisturbed marshland in the San Francisco Bay. Not only is it large, it’s home to many resident birds as well as migratory birds passing through on the Pacific Flyway, a major route for migratory birds going either north or south. While I came to this preserve for the purpose of this project, I found myself really enjoying the sounds and sights of this beautiful wetland. So, for me, birding is not only a rewarding hobby, it’s a great way to slow down and take time out of my day to look at and appreciate nature.

While I don’t expect that this article will suddenly make you want to leave dinner to look a house finch, I do hope it has encouraged you take a few seconds out of your day to look out a window and see what may fly by.