Birding Basics

More than half of the 650-plus species of birds that nest in North American are migratory. Birds migrate to move from areas of low or decreasing food to areas of high or increasing resources. The 3 primary resources they search for are food, water, and nesting locations. Birds that nest in the Northern Hemisphere tend to migrate northward in the spring to take advantage of burgeoning insect populations, budding and flowering plants, and an abundance of nesting sites.

Some good advice from Paul Baicich at the Birding Community E-Bulletin: Before you visit a birding hotspot, do some homework and know what to expect.