Oct 234 min read

Taking Your Birding to the Next Level

Listen to this podcast episode here

During season one of The Birding Life Podcast (Episode 65), I had the pleasure of chatting with Keanu Canto, a young birder whose skills and approach to birding far surpass his years. Kiana shares practical steps to enhance your birding experience, including pre-birding preparation, field techniques, and post-birding insights.

Who Is Keanu Canto?

Keanu is a university student from Pretoria, South Africa, studying Civil Environmental Engineering at the University of Pretoria. While his academic path focuses on nature-oriented problem-solving, his true passion is birding. His love for birds grew gradually, inspired by family holidays in the bush and the simple joy of ticking species off lodge checklists. Over time, birding became a serious pursuit, and Keanu’s curiosity has shaped a unique approach to the hobby.

A Unique Approach to Birding

Keanu's approach to birding is centered around the slow, careful study of birds rather than rushing to tick off species. He enjoys spending time with birds in their natural habitats, getting to know their behaviors, molt patterns, and even their subtle identification markers. For Keanu, birding is about building a deeper connection with nature. He believes that studying birds in local patches—places you visit regularly—helps you develop an intimate knowledge of their habits and behaviors.

He shared several stories that highlight the power of this approach. For example, he once spent over ten hours observing a single spotted flycatcher, gathering recordings and photos to identify its subspecies. This careful observation allowed him to engage in a dialogue with experts and contributed to understanding variations within the species.

Pre-Birding Preparation: The Foundation of Success

For birders looking to improve, Keanu emphasizes the importance of preparation before heading out into the field. Here’s how he recommends getting started:

Choose a Local Patch: Find a nearby area that you can visit regularly. It could be as simple as a local dam, a patch of woodland, or even your own garden. Repeated visits will help you get to know the resident species and their seasonal behaviors.
Learn Common Species: Narrow down the list of birds you might encounter in your area. Use apps like the Roberts app or online resources such as the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2) to see what species are reported in your area. This will help you focus on the birds you are most likely to see.
Study Bird Categories: For beginners, it’s helpful to learn to group birds into broader categories based on their behavior and physical characteristics. Understanding groups like raptors, shorebirds, or seed eaters will make identifying new species in the field much easier.
Page Through Field Guides: Spend time casually flipping through a field guide. This practice helps you familiarize yourself with the birds you might encounter and builds a visual memory of different species.

Birding in the Field: Observing with Patience

Once you’re in the field, Keanu suggests taking a slow and steady approach. Here are some tips for making the most of your time outdoors:

Sit and Observe: Rather than rushing through an area, find a spot and let the birds come to you. Sitting quietly can reveal hidden species and behaviors that you might miss otherwise.
Sketch and Take Notes: Keanu often sketches birds in the field. This practice forces you to notice details that you might overlook otherwise, such as the shape of a bird’s wings or subtle plumage variations. Alongside sketches, take notes on the bird’s behavior, habitat, and any unique markings you observe.
Focus on Soft Field Marks: Pay attention to the bird’s behavior, habitat, and even diet—factors known as soft field marks. These details can often be just as important as physical features for identifying a tricky species.

Post-Birding: Turning Observations into Knowledge

After a day in the field, Keanu’s process doesn’t end. He takes time to review his notes, sketches, and photographs, cross-referencing them with field guides and online resources. This helps him consolidate what he’s learned and identify any new questions or patterns. He’s also a fan of reaching out to online communities, such as birding forums and Facebook groups, for insights and discussion.

Resources for Birders

Keanu recommends a few key resources for birders who want to deepen their knowledge:

Roberts Field Guide: A comprehensive field guide with detailed information about Southern African birds. (purchase a copy here)
Faansie Peacock’s Books: Particularly useful for learning to identify tricky groups like LBJs (little brown jobs) and waders. (purchase a copy here)
The Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2): A valuable tool for understanding bird distribution and frequency in specific areas.
International Resources: Books like The Cornell Handbook of Bird Biology and journals like Dutch Birding offer in-depth insights into bird biology and identification techniques.

Embrace Curiosity: The Key to Better Birding

Keanu’s advice is simple: stay curious. Birding is an endless journey of discovery, with new insights to be found every time you step outside. Whether you’re studying the subtle plumage differences of a black-chested snake eagle or simply enjoying the song of a garden favorite, there’s always more to learn.

As he puts it, "Every bird you see is an invitation to grow deeper and get to know that bird a lot better."

Final Thoughts

For those looking to adopt Keanu’s approach, it starts with just a little extra curiosity and attention to detail. Even in your backyard, you can begin to notice patterns, behaviors, and habits that turn birding from a hobby into a lifelong passion.