We learned to notice the size, coloration, and patterns on birds as well as where they fed and what they were feeding on. We also learned to identify the difference between calls and songs, and to notice with which behavior each vocalization was associated.

Thanks to this early outdoor education, I often see uncommon birds when I am not actively looking for them. For instance, last spring at about 8:30 a.m., I was returning home after walking my son to school. I happened to look up and caught sight of a large dark bird flying just over the house tops.

My first thought was that I was looking at yet another crow -- large, black, and flying low. Then I noticed this bird was barely flapping its wings and as it drew nearer, realized it was much bigger than a crow. It banked and the sunlight revealed a white head and tail feathers.

There is only one species with those markings. I was looking at an adult bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I quickly glanced around to see if anyone else had seen this giant bird. To my amazement, not one person was aware of what had just flown over their heads.

a You don't have to be skilled at identification to enjoy birds; just watching bird behavior and listening to bird songs can be very pleasant. However, if you do learn to identify bird families and then individual species, I promise you will see more birds. A discerning eye registers more than an untrained one.

Identification is detective work, involving observation, gathering clues and making deductions. Bird identification boils down to making educated guesses based on the clues you have observed.

At the start, you may find that you are unsure of your guesses. Each time you try, however, your power of observation increases and you notice more clues. Bird identification is definitely a challenge, especially since your subjects are usually moving and are not aware that you are trying to get a good look at them.

An excellent way to learn about birding is to go out with someone with more experience. Joining a birding or naturalist club or attending organized nature walks is also a good way to go. As with cooking or gardening, some tools are handy to have if you wish to develop your skills.

A good field guide is essential if you want to move from appreciation to identification. My favorite is A Guide to Field Identification: Birds of North America published by Golden Press and available in most bookstores and libraries. I like the format of this book. With range maps opposite descriptions and drawings of each species, you can immediately eliminate those that do not occur in our region, making guesswork that much easier.

With any field guide, always read the section called "How to use this book" before using it. Most people do not bother and end up cursing the stupid book because they missed all the explanations and tips.

Binoculars, if you can get them, are a definite asset. When I started birding in a serious manner, I could not afford a pair. My method of observation included quietly creeping as close to a bird as possible in hopes of seeing some identifying markings. I also paid careful attention to songs and learned to recognize various species by ear. Although the methods I used taught me valuable skills, seeing a warbler through a pair of binoculars for the first time was a delight.

It is a mistake to go with high-powered field glasses, which are often heavy and give very narrow peripheral vision. I always advise 7x35 wide-angle binoculars. Magnification 7 times greater than normal vision is all you need.

The wide angle takes in enough area to be able to track a small bird through dense brush or pick up a duck hurtling through the air over water. Binoculars of this description can be purchased for $40 to $80.

A tape or CD of birdcalls and songs can be helpful if you use it the right way. Just sitting and listening to one song after another usually puts me to sleep.

The best thing to do is to observe a bird, make a guess as to its identity, listen to its song and, at home, find the song on your recording and confirm your guess. The ability to identify birds by ear is a valuable skill to learn since birds are often heard before they are seen.

You ought to know that even experts make mistakes and that identification, in many cases, remains an educated guess.

So be cool, enjoy learning about the birds you see and join the ranks of people who value the sight and sound of wild birds. Dare to be a bird watcher.

The following is a list of the spring migrants I have observed in our region this year:

American robin, killdeer, song sparrow, red-winged blackbird, cowbird, common grackle, Canada goose, mallard, common merganser, turkey vulture, great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, and common snipe.