From Laura Klappenbach,
Your Guide to Animals / Wildlife.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Modern lifestyles separate us from the natural world. We live in houses sealed with windows, doors, and screens that keep the outside out and the inside in. We work in climate-controlled offices where weather can sway a dozen ways from sunup to sundown and we are none the wiser. Thus, to say we want to learn about animals and wildlife is to say we want to step outside the confines of these human 'habitats' into the natural world: a world in which we are one of countless lifeforms that share this planet we call Earth.

The Simple Act of Going Outside

To begin our journey into the world of wildlife, we start by simply going outside. Wherever you are—city or suburb, farm or remote island—nature is all around, but you have to go outside to see it. Of course, the simple act of stepping outside leads to a more complex act of dealing with weather. So be sure you dress appropriately for the climate that's outside your door.

Once outside, you may wonder what to do next. That too is simple. You should listen, look, smell, wonder and wait. What is the first sign of wildlife you can detect? Do you catch a glimpse of a bird flying quickly through your yard? Does a squirrel scamper up a tree across the street? Is there a line of ants making their way across the sidewalk? Do you hear the croaking of a frog in the distance?

Whatever sign of wildlife you detect is a starting point and from there you are ready for the next step: Learning to Ask Many, Silly Questions.

Ask Lots of Questions

"Where do you live? In the city. You have a house? Apartment. Own or rent? Rent. What do you do for a living? Lots of things. Where's your office? I don't have one. How come? I don't need one. Where's your wife? Don't have one. How come? It's a long story. You have kids? No I don't. How come? It's an even longer story. Are you my Dad's brother? What's your record for consecutive questions asked? 38. I'm your Dad's brother alright. You have much more hair in your nose than my Dad. How nice of you to notice. I'm a kid - that's my job." ~Miles questioning Buck in 'Uncle Buck'

Suppose you have spotted a bird swoop through your yard. Since you're determined to learn more about animals and wildlife, you start to ask questions.

Where did that bird come from? Did it dive down from a perch in a tall tree? Did it take off from the ground where it had been gathering food? What did it look like? Was it dark? Light? Bigger than a breadbox? Did it have a long tail or a short broad tail? Did its wings make a flapping sound or were the slient? Did it sing a song? Did it labor to get into the air or did it flit about with great agility?

Don't worry about the complexity or grammatical correctness of your questions. Don't be afraid to ask silly questions. Answer as many questions as you can but don't worry if you don't have all the answers. Just get in the habit of questioning, because it is the key to noticing things about the world around you and noticing things is the key to learning more about animals and wildlife.

A Pocket-Sized Notebook and Waterproof Pen

Once you get in the habit of asking questions you'll find it can be addictive and you may come up with quite a few queries that you cannot answer on the spot nor remember this side of nightfall without writing them down. So the simple solution is to buy yourself a pocket-sized notebook and a waterproof pen. Then when you're out in the field or wandering the town and come across wildlife and questions bubble to the surface, simply jot them down so you can research and contemplate them later.

Buy 'Sibley's Birding Basics'

Why? Because I recommend you read it and take up bird watching. Why? Because whale watching requires an ocean and a boat and the know-how to keep the boat afloat while bird watching can be done in the dryness of your own backyard, is widely accessible, immediately rewarding, and could become a lifelong pastime. Yeah, but why the book? Because 'Sibley's Birding Basics' is the best introduction to bird watching I know, easy-to-read, interesting, and superbly illustrated.

"Bird-watching is literally about watching birds, but it can be practiced in countless different ways. It can be scientific or artistic, technical or not. It can be done in one's backyard or in far-flug wilderness areas. It can involve simply identifying different species; or studies of the birds' songs, behavior, fedding habits, migration, nesting and so on; or it may involve observing the interaction between birds and their environment—plants, insects, weather, humans and so on." ~David Allen Sibley in 'Sibley's Birding Basics'

Make a Habit of Watching Wildlife

It's easy to turn wildlife watching into a habit. You see, the more you watch wildlife, the more you'll find you want to learn. So keep watching, asking questions, jotting down notes, finding answers to your questions, and going outside. Before you know it, you'll be on your way to becoming a wildlife expert!