Learning more about birds is just a wingspan away

Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, perhaps the primary source of general information for many of us was the encyclopedia. If you were lucky enough to have a set at home, they were often the first resource for school assignments. I remember opening those volumes and becoming enthralled with all the available information — especially about other countries, their histories and cultures. It was difficult to retain focus with so much to explore. Had I been assigned an essay on the song sparrow, for example, the encyclopedia likely would have been my starting point. If I felt ambitious — or if the assignment demanded more depth — I might have checked out the school library or asked my mom to take me to the community library. I would navigate the card catalog to find a couple of books on sparrows and possibly a general field guide. Once again, being surrounded by books on every subject, I was susceptible to distraction. From there, I would put together the information into a report, likely handwritten or my mom might have typed it up for me on our old typewriter. Things hadn't changed too much by the time I started college, although I relied more on books. As a science major, I was introduced to research papers as primary sources. For my senior project at Baldwin Wallace, which included a written report and presentation to students and faculty, I used a word processor and prepared overhead slides. My topic was "Brain Attacks"—a term that, for a time, was used to reframe how the public thought about strokes. The idea was that strokes attack the brain in the same way as a heart attack affects the heart. My grandmother had suffered one at a relatively young age, and, heartbroken, I was drawn to the subject. My research included attending a lecture at a major hospital and the tedious task of tracking down photos and diagrams to create visual aids. Today, the availability of information is nearly infinite. Sometimes it is even overwhelming. What used to take me weeks to complete would take an afternoon these days. I write these columns using a blend of traditional and digital resources, adjusting depending on the topic. The biggest difference is the speed and accessibility of research. We've moved from encyclopedias and card catalogs to Google and artificial intelligence. Though many may not be ready to hear it, I would suggest that AI is to Google what Google was to libraries — a revolutionary leap in how we access information. For anyone interested in birds, here are some great ways to learn more — presented in no particular order. The benefit of these varied approaches is that they suit different learning styles — whether you're a reader, a researcher or someone who learns best by listening or watching Podcasts Reportedly, there are around 4.5 million podcasts available worldwide, covering every subject imaginable. Podcasts can be enjoyed while working in the yard, walking, commuting or simply relaxing. Birding-specific podcasts such as BirdNote Daily, The American Birding Podcast and Talking Birds are excellent places to start. Documentary Films I've long enjoyed documentaries on a wide variety of subjects. While not all are focused on a single bird species, they offer rich visuals and insights from experts. Some outstanding examples include Birders, The Life of Birds, Dancing with the Birds and All That Breathes. Apps In addition to traditional field guide apps, tools like the Merlin Bird ID app (from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) allow users to identify birds by photo or sound. eBird is another essential app for tracking sightings and exploring bird ranges. They are great for information "on the go" or out in the field. Zoom and Online Presentations A positive outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic was the rise of Zoom presentations. Organizations across the country began hosting virtual talks — many of which are recorded and available on YouTube. The Orange County Audubon Society, for instance, has built an impressive online library of educational programs that I often enjoy. YouTube Beyond Zoom recordings, YouTube hosts an enormous library of bird and nature videos, available on nearly every topic. Whether it's a tutorial on bird photography or a profile on hummingbirds, the visual and auditory content is unmatched. Almost everything I know about photography came from YouTube. What I also like about YouTube is that videos can be professionally produced or uploaded by an amateur bird watcher who just happened to capture an interesting moment. The Great Courses In the late 1990s, while commuting to work in Toledo, I often rented The Great Courses (formerly The Teaching Company) — college-level classes taught by top professors — from the library. Back then, I enjoyed lectures on science, philosophy, astronomy and history. Today, the series is available online and includes birding-related titles like The National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America and The Scientific Wonder of Birds. Books and Field Guides We maintain a small personal library of about 100 bird books — from field guides to memoirs and biographies. Field guides are often the first stop for species identification, behavior, range maps and life history. Books like Kenn Kaufman's "Lives of North American Birds" and David Allen Sibley's guides remain indispensable. Personally, I'm drawn to memoirs, and a few of my columns have reflected that by serving as informal book reviews Birding Festivals and Camps Attending events such as birding festivals and camps can be immersive and transformative. They feature expert speakers, workshops and guided field trips. One of my first major birding experiences was at Audubon Camp at Hog Island in 2018. I still keep in touch with some of the instructors — including Scott Weidensaul, who later served as our Black River Audubon Outstanding Speaker. Websites and online resources Websites like All About Birds (Cornell Lab) provide excellent information on species ID, calls, behavior and conservation status — often with side-by-side comparisons and links to deeper research. I frequently reference All About Birds in my columns as a source of background information. Research papers Academic studies published by universities or scientific journals are available through databases like Google Scholar and are one of my favorites sources. While some are behind paywalls, abstracts often provide valuable insights. These papers represent the latest information in ornithological research, and I love discovering something interesting to share. Magazines Print and digital magazines still thrive in the birding community. My favorites include Bird Watcher's Digest, Audubon Magazine, Birds & Blooms and Birding (by the American Birding Association). They offer a mix of personal stories, scientific updates and photography. It is a great way to keep up with what is going on in the birding world. Online courses and webinars In recent years, especially with the rise of virtual learning, a number of structured online courses and webinars have become available for bird enthusiasts of all levels. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Academy offers high-quality, self-paced courses on topics such as bird identification, behavior , and biology — taught by leading ornithologists. It was one of the first courses I took when I became interested in birds. Newsletters Black River Audubon has printed its "Wingtips" newsletter since 1958, and many other organizations do the same — regularly publishing articles online. You never know what gem might turn up in a Google search. Species-specific organizations Groups like the North American Bluebird Society and the Purple Martin Conservation Association offer highly specialized information about the species they support, from nest box plans to migration research. Other species-specific organizations include the Trumpeter Swan Society, Raptor Center and Project Snowstorm. Personal experience Finally, and perhaps the most valuable form of research, is personal experience. Whether birding alone or with others, few things are more rewarding than a firsthand encounter. Reading about the American Dipper is one thing, spotting one after hours of searching along a cold Colorado stream and watching it in its natural habitat is quite another. That moment becomes part of your own story and is usually the most interesting to share. I use all these methods and appreciate the variety they offer. When I search for "song sparrow," I might find a podcast episode, a research paper, a YouTube video or an article in a favorite magazine. By mixing up the informational resources, the process stays fresh and different each time.