Helpful Hints for Enjoying Field Trips

---

Here are some basic rules of the birding field trip. These may lead to a more pleasant experience for you.

Taken from An Insider’s Guide to Enjoying Your First Birding Field Trip by Pete Dunne, New Jersey Audubon magazine, Autumn 2000, pg 22
Copyright 2000, New Jersey Audubon Society

• Familiarize yourself with any pre-trip information you have. Most pressing questions can be answered well before you leave: dress, equipment needs, time commitments, lunch plans. Proper preparation is the first step toward having a great time. Note on Clothing: In winter, if in doubt, just bring it. In hot weather, cover up for protection from the sun: hat, long sleeve cotton shirt, long pants, maybe even some sunscreen. White or bright colored clothing sends the universal message of “Danger! Hide!” to wild creatures—not the message you want to send. Avoid white or bright colored clothes.

• Never miss an opportunity to use a restroom. Your capacity for birding may be limitless, but your bladder is not. Take full advantage of any planned rest stop. And mind that coffee consumption between stops!

• Be on time. Self determination is sacrificed when on group events, such as field trips.

• Don’t wander off. Stay close to the leader. The more experienced members almost always have the most knowledge and the best skills. Be close by to take advantage of them. When car caravanning, the rule of thumb is one car length back for each ten miles per hour. Example: 30 mph, 3 car lengths back, etc. If you don’t trust yourself to drive safely, please ride with someone else!

• Come prepared. If you are driving, arrive with a full tank of gas. If you are supposed to bring your lunch, do so. Don’t plan to stop at AM-PM for a sandwich.

• Check out your equipment before the trip. Malfunctioning or bad equipment is the best way to cut into the fun you’ll have. Test them out beforehand. If needed, borrow binoculars for the trip, rather than running to K-Mart at the eleventh hour to buy a cheap pair.

• Speak softly. Human voices put wildlife on alert. Speak in whispers or in low voices.

• Keep motion to a minimum. In close proximity to birds, avoid any quick movements. Walking toward the “bird of the trip” and scaring it off probably won’t win you any friends.

• Don’t monopolize the leader or the equipment. Everyone will have questions. Let everyone be free to ask them. Please share the use of spotting scopes with those who don’t have them. Let all have a look, then you can return for more leisurely viewing.

• Ask questions. The only dumb question is the one that is not asked. Certainly we are not all experts—this is a well known fact. Leaders want to share their knowledge. Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. There’s a good chance your question is one that other group members have too.

---

KAS Field Trip general guidelines are printed each month. Specific trips list meeting times & places, time we’ll be out in the field, if lunch should be brought, whether spotting scopes will be handy, rain dates, and other pertinent information. The leader’s phone number is there, too. Call them if you’re not sure.  Field Trips are one of our fun activities. We want everyone to enjoy them! Thanks!

 

---