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Watching WildlifeBy Laura Klappenbach, About.com Guide to Animals / Wildlife Watching wildlife is the best way to learn about the many remarkable animals with whom we share planet Earth. The tips that follow are practical ways you can enhance your wildlife watching experiences. You'll learn how to plan a nature hike, record your nature observations, and fine-tune your animal identification skills. You can explore topics such as locating elusive animals, selecting a good field guide, and spotting animal tracks. So dust off your hiking boots, grab your binoculars, and get ready to enjoy the world of wildlife.
Animal Identification When you're out in the field observing animals, it's always rewarding to identify the species you see. But the process of identification is often quite challenging. It requires a keen sense of observation, patience, research, and a bit of luck. These tips and insights will help you to fine-tune your wildlife watching skills so you can more accurately identify various animal groups and species.
Backpacks / Binoculars / Hiking Boots The right field gear can make all the difference when you're trekking through wild places. Today more than ever, you have access to an incredible variety of tools that tame the wilds of the outdoors: backpacks, binoculars, hiking boots, outerwear, maps, compasses, and walking shoes--to name just a few. These articles will help you find the gear that's right for you and your activities.
Backyard Wildlife Your backyard is the best place to start watching wildlife--it's easy to get to, the wildlife you see there often returns time and again making identification a bit easier, and over time you see how the changing seasons affect the species around you. These articles examine the wildlife that lives just outside your back door--how to attract it, what to look for, and what to expect throughout the year.
Birdwatching Watching birds is among the most popular wildlife watching activities. Birds can be spotted in a wide range of habitats, from your own backyard to urban settings, to pristine wildernesses. You can also see different species throughout the year, especially during migration season when birds are passing through to get to overwintering or breeding grounds. These articles will inspire you to pick up your binoculars and head for a nearby birding spot. Conservation / Endangered Species Growing pressure resulting from human activity has adversely impacted many species and habitats around the world. Humans are changing the landscapes around them and in doing so they are damaging and eliminating the environmental resources necessary to sustain animal diversity. Through conservation, people are working to protect wildlife around the globe and counter the effects of habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and pollution.
Ethology / Animal Behavior Watching wildlife involves observing animal behavior. An understanding of animal behavior provides insights into how animals interact with each other and their environment. It can shed light on their evolution and natural history. Ethology, the study of animal behavior, explores topics such as how behavior impacts animal survival, what stimuli trigger behaviors, and how animals learn and communicate.
Natural History Books / DVDs Field guides, natural history books, and nature DVDs are great ways to find information about a wide range of animal-related topics. They can help you identify animals, explore distant habitats, learn about evolution, understand animal behavior, and discover natural history. If you're planning a nature hike, exploring a habitat, or researching a particular animal, the following articles and book reviews will help you find the books and DVDs to fit your needs.
Recognizing Animal Tracks / Signs Who says you need to actually see an animal to know it's around? There are many ways to detect an animal's presence that don't rely on visual confirmation. Footprints in the mud, nests in trees, scratches on bark, droppings, discarded remains of a meal--these are all signs of animal presence that can help you identify the creatures in a particular habitat. The following articles will teach you how to recognize animal signs and tracks. Tips for Amateur Naturalists You can study animals and wildlife in your own backyard at your own pace. These articles and tips will guide you as you develop your skills as an amateur naturalist. Find out how to create and equip your own naturalist's laboratory, how to conduct simple experiments to learn about wildlife, and how to create detailed records of your observations throughout the seasons for the habitats you explore and study.
Wildlife Photography / Nature Writing Wildlife photography and nature writing offer you rewarding ways to record your observations of the natural world. By capturing images and writing descriptions of nature, you'll learn to fine-tune your observation skills. You'll learn how to pay attention to nature's details and subtleties. The following articles will help you explore photography and writing and find out how it can enhance your understanding of the natural world. |
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