On a sunny, crisp morning at Marymoor Park, a dozen bird enthusiasts gathered for a workshop offered by Eastside Audubon and South Sound Nature School. The group made their way around the Birdloop Trail, which winds its way through over 300 acres of protected conservation area that offers views of wooded brush and marshy wetland habitats.
Workshop Leader and Naturalist Kevin O’Mally lead the group through exercises meant to offer new ways to approach birding and build skills. Here are three tips the workshop learned to help turn any walk into a beautiful birding adventure!
Tip 1: Go Slow, See More Birds
Moving quietly and taking your time gives you a better chance to notice the subtle sights and sounds birds use to blend into their surroundings. When you pause, you’ll start to hear different calls, spot small movements in the trees, and even notice bird behavior you’d miss at a faster pace.
Slowing down also helps you connect more deeply with nature—learning how birds interact with each other and their habitat. Birding isn’t a race; the more you look and listen, the more the world of birds opens up to you.
Tip 2: Anticipate What Kinds of Birds Pop Up In Each Habitat
One great way to boost your birding success is to start noticing how different birds prefer different habitats. For example, you’re more likely to find a heron near a pond than in a pine forest. When you learn what types of birds are typically found in wetlands, grasslands, or woodlands, you can begin to predict what you might see—and focus your attention more effectively.
This not only helps you spot birds more often, but also deepens your understanding of how birds interact with their environment. Birding becomes more rewarding when you start seeing the patterns in where birds live and why.
Tip 3: Don’t Get Bogged Down in Species Names (Yet)
When you’re new to birding, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the species names—but don’t worry about memorizing them right away. The Marymoor Birdloop Trail has over 120 bird species that are regularly spotted, but you don’t have to know all their names to enjoy seeing them.
Instead, focus on learning basic bird types: is it a duck, a hawk, a sparrow? This approach helps you build a strong foundation and makes it easier to notice key differences in size, shape, behavior, and habitat.
By keeping things simple at first, you’ll enjoy birding more and feel more confident in what you’re seeing. Once you feel comfortable identifying broad groups of birds, teasing out the differences between species becomes a hobby that can last a lifetime.
With these simple approaches to observing the natural world, birds will start to reveal themselves to you wherever you go. The Marymoor Park Birdloop Trail is a great place to practice these new skills.
Interested in learning more? Visit Eastside Audubon’s website where they host birding workshops in the field, virtual training sessions, and habitat restoration events. Eastside Audubon helped make the Birdloop Trail possible and has been co-managing the Marymoor conservation area for 18 years. We appreciate their partnership and encourage everyone to spend some time enjoying this wonderful piece of nature.