Far above the bustle of downtown Calgary — beyond the nine-to-fivers shuffling through their work weeks moving through the Plus-15 walkways — birds of prey live atop the glass and concrete skyscrapers. Peregrine falcons, hawks and owls find a way to fit in with the metropolitan noise.
But if you’re not looking up, if you’re not looking out for them, you wouldn’t even know it.
“You really have to be in the moment when you’re birding,” says Kaya Konopnicki, co-president of Nature Calgary.
Konopnicki, a birding enthusiast, got her start by spending time with her mother. After seeing her spark bird, she became an avid member of the growing birding community. A spark bird is the first bird that grabs a person’s interest making birding a new hobby for them.
From a retirement pastime to a COVID-19 hobby, birding has gained popularity. Konopnicki says birding is a great way to find a new community and, of course, new birds.
And there are some tricks for spotting the birds.
What to look for
Calgary is home to a wide array of birds, making it easy for someone looking to take up birding as a hobby. A common misconception is that birding is only for the warmer months, but data suggests otherwise. Birds Canada is an online resource that collects information from community birders. It uses citizen science to show precisely what birds are in an area and at what time.
The Alberta birding community also participates in events like The Christmas Bird Count that collects species counts, allowing scientists to better understand the distribution and populations of bird species.
But where to go? Some people overthink it.
Where to go
“I would start, right in your own neighborhood,” says Konopnicki.
Purchasing top-of-the-line binoculars, specialized bird books, telescopes and cameras can all come later. An entry-level birder only needs weather-appropriate clothing, patience and a bird identification app like eBird or Merlin.
Getting outside and starting to spot local birds, like the black-capped chickadee — the bird of Calgary, is what’s most important.
Fisher Stephenson, a avid birder and filmmaker, says birding can be overwhelming when starting out. His award-winning short film I Took A Drive showcases common, rare and endangered birds of Southern Alberta.
Stephenson says a big roadblock to a birders’ success is the overload of information that someone joining the community may encounter. Remembering markings, names, songs and sizes is daunting for a beginner.
“Just really start small, and then you’ll slowly start to notice all the different birds,” says Stephenson.
Stepping into a new hobby will always have its challenges.
“If you’re just looking for something to do, you might as well try it,” says Stephenson.
All birding requires is time, a comfortable pair of shoes, and a willingness to look up.