Welcome to Expert Village. My name is Wayne Petersen, and I direct the Massachusetts
Audubon Society's Important Bird Areas Program for Massachusetts. Today we're here at the
Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield, Massachusetts. And, we're going to be talking
about the equipment needed to get one started in birding. I think that the idea is to dress for the
weather. Recognize that in many birding situations weather, obviously, can be less than optimum.
Certainly in tropical situations where rain is an issue, it's always handy to have a light poncho or
even a small portable umbrella that you can pop up during tropical rain showers. If you're birding
on the water, dress in layers with a windbreaker and a sweat shirt or something underneath. In the
winter, obviously, it's very critical to dress warmly with appropriate winter clothing. And these
days, so many sports stores and so forth have all manner of outdoor gear and wear. Foot wear is
especially critical. For many situations in the summer, sandals are just fine if you're going to be
birding by the seashore. At the same time, if you're going to be hiking in rugged areas, lightweight
hiking gear or hiking boots of various sorts. In many cases, it can be wet underfoot, and in some
cases, particularly in the early spring or in situations where you're in marshy areas, actually having
boots. And, I have here a pair of what are called "Wellies" or Wellington boots. These are basically
just rubber boots. And, they are very effective in that they just slip on. And, you can then not be as
concerned where you have to walk. There are boots now that can be pulled on over hiking shoes or
sneakers, that if you throw them in a backpack, you can very quickly transition from, you know,
sort of dry land to aquatic situations. So, just be practical in your packing. Don't think fashion first.
Think in terms of, of what's going to be most appropriate for the environment that you're in and,
what's going to be most, or least, I should say, disruptive to the birds that you're looking for.
More Photos
