An expert shares tips for birding in Cincinnati

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a flying pig! 

Birdwatching is a fun, inexpensive hobby for individuals, couples and families, as well as a great excuse to visit Cincinnati’s parks and trails—and Cincinnati’s thriving birding community is welcoming to newcomers.  

Here, Ned Keller from the Cincinnati chapter of the Audubon Society of Ohio shares some tips for Cincinnatians who are interested in starting out as birders. 

Have the Right Equipment 

You don’t need much to get started as a birder. If you’re planning to leave your backyard, binoculars are a must-have for birding, but you can get a pair of decent quality without breaking the bank. For beginners, Keller recommends finding a pair on the cheaper end, like the Audubon Society-recommended Tasco Essentials. 

To start identifying birds, you’ll also need a field guide, like the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America. You can also skip the book and download the National Audubon Society app—though looking at birds on a small phone screen may make them harder to identify.  

Get Outside 

Hamilton County’s wealth of parks means there are plenty of places to start your birding journey. Keller mentions Miami Whitewater Forest as a favorite because it’s home to a few different bird habitats, with water, woodland and prairie areas.  

Your birding journey can also begin in your own backyard. Install a bird feeder and keep it well-stocked—you’ll get long, uninterrupted looks at the birds that come to visit.  

Get Connected 

Connect with the Cincinnati chapter of the National Audubon Society on Facebook or visit their website to learn about upcoming events, including a guided birding walk through Middle Creek Park on Sunday, May 28. 

For those who are just starting out, Keller recommends becoming involved with the local community and talking to experienced birders. If there’s one mistake new birders make, it’s not being willing to ask for help. 

“There are a whole lot of people in the birding community who are willing to help,” he says. 

For many, birding can become a lifelong passion. 

“Just go out and do it,” Keller says. “Get those binoculars, even cheap ones, and look at birds and get curious about them. You can just keep going with this hobby forever.”