The Wordsmith's Forge

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth runs April 25-May 15. During this time, people post content only visible on Dreamwidth (although it can be reposted elsewhere after the event ends). There's usually a flurry of activity as bloggers share anchor posts, new fiction, icons, banners, questionnaires, friending fests, memes, and other goodies. Community hosts often hold special activities in their communities too. Watch your reading page for more festivities.

This year, I'll be posting about birds in honor of birdfeeding. Last year, I featured hippies. If you are new to that community, we have an Introduction tag and questionnaire that you can use to tell us about yourself.

I also made a blogging questionnaire last year, which people are welcome to use. I'm going to post that on twitter_refugees for the folks who haven't seen it before.





Week 1: Birding

April 25: Birdwatching

Birdwatching is a fun activity for all ages. It has many benefits. Chief among these, birds make people happy, so birdwatching improves health. Here are some tips for children, adults, and seniors. Learn how to go birdwatching.


Books are among the most useful tools for bird appreciation of any sort. They include bird identification guides, birdwatching handbooks, wildlife gardening guides, fiction, travelogues, science texts, picture books, and more. Here are some lists to get you started.

23 BEST BOOKS ABOUT BIRDS (THAT ARE ACTUALLY FUN TO READ)

Bird Attracting Books

Bird Feeding Books

Bird Watching Book Lists (Goodreads)

Birding Book Lists (Goodreads)

BIRDS, BIRDERS, & BIRDWATCHING: The Best Books of 2021

What Bird Guide Is Best For You?

Wildlife Gardening


Apps provide information about birds for mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers. You can also find desktop computer programs about birds and ways to attract them. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

5 best bird listing software to fuel your passion (for PC)

The 11 Best Birding Apps in 2023! (iPhone & Android)

Best Apps for Birding with Kids - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Best Birding Apps for iPhone, Android, Tablets (2023)

Best iPhone Apps for Learning Bird Songs


Despite what some people say, you don't really need any equipment for birdwatching. Just go outside and look or listen for birds. That makes this one of the most affordable hobbies. However, some tools make the experience easier or more enjoyable. So there are some popular things birders use. Also consider adjunct hobbies, such as photography or art en plein air. These have their own lists of equipment.

A Basic Bird-Watching Equipment Checklist

Basic Guide To Plein Air Painting (watercolor)

A Beginners Guide to Plein Air Painting - What Do I Need?

Bird Photography Gear Guide (advanced)

Birding Gear - Ornithology (multiple lists, more advanced)

Choosing the Perfect Camera Gear for a New Bird Photographer

Essential Bird Watching Gear 2023 (The Ultimate Guide!)

Essentials of Beginning Birdwatching

So You Want to Draw Birds? What to Pack in Your Field Sketching Kit

Supplies for How to Paint Birds with Jane Kim (acrylic)


Learning how to identify birds is a big part of the hobby for many people. Consider your location and the time of year; that will tell you which birds are likely to be in the area. Ideally, obtain at least one field guide or app focused on birds for your locale. Look and listen. You can identify birds by their field marks and their song, or occasionally behavior. You may also wish to study bird nests, bird feathers, and other oddments such as owl pellets. Check out these resources.

Bird Feather Identification Guide

Building Skills: The 4 Keys To Bird Identification

How to Identify Birds (Audubon)

How To Identify Birds: 21 easy tips to sharpen your bird ID skills!

How to Identify Birds - Tips for Beginners

Identifying Birds - FeederWatch

Identifying Nests and Eggs

Owl Pellets

Teaching Bird ID – K-12 Education - Cornell Lab of Ornithology


There are also tools for online identification of birds. These let you search based on different features.

All About Birds - Search

All About Birds - Browse by Shape

All About Birds - Browse by Taxonomy

Birdzilla - Birds by Color

Jays Bird Barn - Online Bird Guide (color, size, habitat, beak)

* * *

Week 1: Birding
Birdwatching
Songbirds
Woodpeckers
Hummingbirds
Shorebirds
Waterfowl
Raptors

Week 2: Outdoor Fixtures
Bird Fixtures
Birdhouses
Other Wildlife Houses
Birdbaths
Birdfeeders
Other Wildlife Feeders
Assorted Features

Week 3: Birdscaping
Gardening for Birds
The Importance of Native Species
Flowers and Herbs for Birds
Grasses and Sedges for Birds
Trees and Shrubs for Birds
Caterpillars for Birds
Water Features