How to "get lucky" when birding (A Guide to Finding More Rare Birds)
Updated: 2 days ago
You have likely gotten lucky. I have definitely gotten lucky. We have all gotten lucky (I hope). But not everyone knows what it takes... to get lucky.
Whether you are doing it on the tundra or getting sweaty in a desert, fortune may not actually be the most essential ingredient in the recipe for getting lucky. Instead, getting lucky (when birding) requires focused, repetitive action on a few highly desired hotspots.
For years, I would tell people I was no expert; I just "got lucky" when I found a rare or unique bird. But I am ready to change my tune. I believe I have finally cracked the code and am here to tell you the secret ingredients for "getting lucky" while birding. In fact, I feel so confident that I might rename myself the the Gambler of Guillemots, the Limpkin of Luck, OR even... the Phalarope of Fortune.
See our other articles on rare birds!
Back to my recipe for success for all you lonely birders. (I say lonely only since most of you are likely reading this from your palatial porcelain potty.) There are FOUR key elements (or actions) I recommend you take to maximize your chances of "getting lucky" this year when birding:
If you want these four actions without all the flocking silliness, see the end of the article.
Get in that hotspot as much as you can.
And while you are there, learn everything about it from bush to twigs and berries.
Focus on the FUNdamentals.
Because you'd be mental not to have fun.
We LOVE the fundamentals.
You do not need to know how to do it all; you just need to know how to work with what you have
Do not try to get across the ocean in a rowboat
Get proof
Because nobody will believe you got so lucky without proof
Hit the hotspot
You know that one birder who always seems to find a rare bird at everyone's favorite birding hotspot? There is a reason. Those birders visit that hotspot again, and again, and again, and again, etc. Why does that matter? Regular visits increase the probability of finding an unexpected species. This is achieved by knowing where to find specific groups of birds within your hotspot's habitat and understanding the seasonality of bird movements in your area.
Visiting the same hotspot repeatedly lets birders know where to find bird guilds across seasons. For example, the pond is where to find rails or shorebirds, the grove is best for migrating warblers, and the open edges are great for sparrow flocks. Use the knowledge from these frequent visits to focus your time and attention on areas that attract great bird diversity and abundance.
Document your "lucky" moments!
Finally, visiting a select few hotspots continuously allows for birding across seasons. Birders who seem to constantly "get lucky" continue birding their favorite birding locales even in the "lesser" seasons. Many birders will limit their visits to only the "best" birding times. Late summer, an often under-birded season due to the heat, will yield significant rarities from post-nesting season dispersals.
Application: Hit that hotspot as frequently as you can. Hit it hard and fast or soft and slow. You know what you have time for. Just hit it.
Have some fundamentals
Many new birders are so excited about their latest hobby that they forget to stop and build a foundation of bird identification. Knowing how to target the most critical visual, audible, and contextual cues for working through the ID of an unknown (and known) bird is essential to "getting lucky." There are a couple of options to build these fundamental steps to identifying a bird:
Take a class
Read the introductory section of your field guide
Watch some videos or read some articles
New birders are not the only ones who can suffer from not sticking to the fundamentals of bird ID. Seasoned birders, chasers, twitchers, experts, etc, can all forget to work through the most basic identification steps when out birding. Separating two similar species requires close study and applying fundamentals, regardless of experience levels. Having a solid knowledge of the fundamentals of bird identification is the next step to "getting lucky" when birdwatching.
Application: Have some doggone FUN-damentals. Get deep into bird identification. Learn bird ID steps, mnemonics for sounds, and use context.
Helpful Flocking Note: Get familiar with the term GISS, which, of course, stands for General Impression of Shape and Size. And nothing else.
Know what you have and what you don't
Bird lovers who know how to "get lucky" do not look for rare birds when they visit hotspots frequently. Instead, the "luckiest" birders understand what they have. They know the most common species expected in their area. If you start trying to do more than you are capable of, you might get mocked. And nobody wants that. Really ruins the mood. The birding mood.
Why does learning common species help find rare birds? Once you know your expected species inside and out, you can eliminate the birds you know when something odd shows up. This is truly the way to "get lucky." Know what you have, and use it to your advantage.
Application: Learn the 50-100 most common birds in your region for the current year. REALLY learn them. All plumages, ages, subspecies, sounds, habitat, and seasonal movements. Then, when something outside of your 100 appears, you will know. And add another 50-100 each year.
Bad at getting lucky with real birds? Try a game board bird, instead. We LOVE Wingspan!
Be believable
Tall tales never go far before someone calls for evidence. You can avoid this scrutiny from your birding friends by documenting each time you "get lucky." Some people might think it unnecessary, but photo and video evidence cannot be disputed (when accurate). Plus, you can also show off far and wide with the aforementioned proof of your escapade. Maybe even toss in a brag or two.
How else can you be believable? Get help from an expert. There is nothing shameful about asking a more experienced person to confirm your experience. Yes, an expert is frequently a person of an elevated age with significant knowledge. But you know you can trust them because they have been doing it for years.
Application: Take photos, videos, and voice recordings. Nobody will think you are weird. Also, ask for help from those who have done it before. And by "it," we mean found a rare bird.
The Four Steps to Find a Rare Bird
For all of you not interested in reading me make wayyyyy too many innuendos, I provide you the same list, but in a much less creative way. Without ado, here are the four steps you need to take to begin finding more rare birds:
Repetitively visit birding locations with high abundance and diversity. Visit multiple locations, referred to as hotspots on eBird, as often as possible. Know the habitats for each hotspot and which birds like to hang out in each area.
Learn and practice your basic bird identification skills frequently. Memorize the steps for an ID so you can repeat them in your sleep. Take a class, read some articles, and watch videos. Just learn.
Learn your most common species of birds. Start by memorizing fifty or more of the most common birds in your area. Learn EVERY identification aspect of their life cycles. Once you have those down pat, do it again. When you know your most common birds by heart, you will recognize when an uncommon bird pops up.
Document your sightings. Documenting your sighting not only allows you to share the rare bird but also allows for additional opinions on your identification. And expert opinion can only help!
Go, "Get lucky!"
As we wrap up our journey into the art of "getting lucky" while birding, it's clear that success in this pursuit hinges on more than just chance. Use a deliberate approach following the steps above, and I can almost guarantee you will fall asleep at night with a smile on your face. Take it from me, the Phalarope of Fortune.
I hope my family did not read this.
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