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Autumn Birding: What you need to know

Autumn· Backyard· Birds

22 Feb
New Holland Honeyeater

Autumn is an exciting time to observe the world of birds as some prepare to migrate. We have the opportunity to spot new bird species in our local areas if we are alert and observant to the signs and clues.

Our interactions with migratory birds can be predicted with a basic knowledge of the weather and bird behaviour, as many birds wait until weather conditions are favourable before initiating migratory flights.

Wedge-tailed Eagle

There are two groups of migrants; diurnal migrants like raptors who rely on thermals to generate lift to soar and nocturnal migrants such as sparrows who ‘drop out’ of flight during the day to refuel. It is when these land birds ‘drop out’ of migratory flight during the day, that we have the opportunity to spot them.

Migratory birds are tuned into seasonal changes that initiate their flight from breeding grounds to wintering grounds, and if we are aware of these clues, our autumn bird watching adventures will become extraordinary experiences.

Silver-eye

Table of Contents

  • Some clues that hint at the start of the migratory season are:
  • Bird Watching in the Field
  • Items needed for bird observation:
  • Or download the Autumn Birding Notebook Pages that include:
  • WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT BIRDS AND WILDFLOWERS?
    • YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:

Some clues that hint at the start of the migratory season are:

  • Decreasing daylight as winter approaches and the angle of the sun shifts signaling a change in season.
  • Cooler temperatures.
  • In some climates, rain may be an indicator of shifting seasons.
  • As summer crops are consumed, fewer seeds and insects are accessible.
  • Birds will migrate once their offspring are mature enough to undertake their first migratory flight.
  • Their location is also a factor to consider as birds who have shorter distances to cover may leave later in the season than those who travel further.
  • Weather patterns play a major role in bird migration as the birds will rely on favourable tailwinds blowing in the right direction. Passages of strong cold fronts and movements of low-pressure centers encourage large flights of migratory birds in Autumn. Birds who are waiting for the right weather conditions will often congregate in one geographical area until they can ‘fall-out’ together.  
New Holland Honeyeater

Bird Watching in the Field

In order to prepare for the migratory season, let’s turn our eyes to the sky so that we can spot our local backyard or bush bird species. We’ll notice the birds that adapt to the cooler change, and later, those who will stop by on their way to wintery feeding grounds.

Sharp hearing and eyesight are essential to birdwatchers as they listen to the calls of birds and identify them. As you listen for their sounds you’d want to stop, be still and locate them so you’re able to combine the call with the bird and identify it within a field guide.


Once you’ve found the bird, observe it quietly and notice its colouring, size and special features. Watch the behaviour of the bird and make notes about its movements.

Wattle Bird

Is the bird:
• Preening
• Flying
• Walking/hopping
• Singing/calling
• Feeding/foraging
• Resting
• Fighting/threatening

Take further notes on the:
• Habitat
• Day and time
• Season
• Numbers. Is the bird found alone, in twos, small flocks or large flocks?
• How shy, tame or friendly is the bird?


After you’ve observed the bird, make a quick field sketch. This is not an art assignment so scribble the sketches and make notes about your observations.

Field sketching is an important skill for any scientist who is learning about a topic of interest. If you’d like to, and it’s not necessary, you can improve on the drawings and add colour later.


Once you’re intimate with the birds in your backyard, consider investigating birds further afield and in different habitats. There are rural birds, bush birds, and shorebirds waiting to be discovered. As your understanding of birds deepens, you’ll begin to appreciate how intricate and complex God created these creatures, which tells us how unfathomable He is.


“How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”
~ Psalm 104:24

Items needed for bird observation:


• Keen eyes!
• And ears 🙂
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Field Nature Journal and Stationery
• Bird Field Identification Guide

Or download the Autumn Birding Notebook Pages that include:

  • A Notebook Page for Upper Primary
  • A Notebook Page for Lower Primary/Preschool
  • An Autumn Bird Census Chart
  • A Bird Profile Page
Autumn-Birding-Notebook-PagesDownload

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT BIRDS AND WILDFLOWERS?

Dig deeper with the handbook to Amy Mack’s Bush Calendar.

Amy Mack is a favourite Aussie author who captured the Australian bush through the seasons. In this guide, we walk alongside Amy as she identifies wildflowers and observes nesting birds through the year. We can choose to investigate Amy’s nature finds with field guides indoors or explore a local park for wildflowers and wildlife while recording our own sightings in a year’s cycle.

Listen to bird melodies while enjoying an outdoor breakfast or take a sunset walk and collect nature treasures to journal. Learn to identify birds with song and field marks while bird stalking. Observe wildflowers bud, blossom and seed while examining  their flower and leaf arrangements.

Capture birds and wildflowers within a nature journal with sketches and paintings, or a nature scrapbook with photographs on a weekly basis. Alternatively, explore the bush once a month and create a Penology Wheel to record your sightings.

A Handbook to A Bush Calendar by Amy Mack is a year’s nature study curriculum that is flexible; explore indoors or out, weekly or monthly. The guide features poems from C.J. Dennis and optional literature from Nuri Mass and Amy Mack. Explore the outdoors with living books.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:

JACKY WINTER

FIELD NOTEBOOKING

EARN YOUR NATURE CLUB BADGES WHILE EXPLORING BIRDS BY OBSERVING, COLLECTING DATA, OR NATURE JOURNALING AT NATURE CLUB.

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About Marie

Homeschooling is a gentle amble for me since four of my five children have graduated. I share my joy with things beautiful, good and lovely with my grandchildren where I live contently with hubby in rural South Australia.

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We have outdoor expeditions to undertake and adventures to embark upon. We’ll explore the outdoors together, side by side, and uncover miraculous mysteries, and secrets. We’ll wander, and wonder in amazement as we become familiar with the Australian fauna and flora.

I desire to come alongside you in the muddle, making nature study the joy it’s meant to be.  Outdoor adventures will become a regular part of your life as you make connections to the natural world with a sense of awe.

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Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:01+10:30
Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
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We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
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2018-05-25T15:50:47+10:30
We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/cheryl/

Sally

We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:48:30+10:30
We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/sally/

Jessie

I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:36+10:30
I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/jessie/

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I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:51:39+10:30
I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
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Rachel

We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:53:11+10:30
We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/rachel/
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