Nature journaling and birding go together like birds of a feather. In fact, nature journaling is as useful as your binoculars in making you a better birder. Would you go birding without your binoculars?
I know what you are thinking…
“Great, another thing to learn.”
That is an understandable concern. You already have a long list of things to learn about: best binoculars for birding, best scope for birding, how to clean your binoculars, how to find birds, birding by ear, birding clubs near me, best clothes for birding, how to ID juveniles from adults, how to stay safe when you are birding, etc. Nature journaling is not just another thing to add to this list, in contrast nature journaling is a practice that can help you make that list more manageable.
Why Combine Nature Journaling and Birding?
- See more birds.
- Learn faster.
- Better Memory.
- More Joy.
- Leave a legacy.
See more birds…
First of all, I guarantee you will see more birds. I’m sure you see lots of birds already but trust me on this one. Nature journaling will get you out in the field more, paying attention more minutely, and learning more about the ecological context. My secret birding technique is to nature journal a tree or plant and pretend I’m not there to see the birds. As I get distracted in my painting of the tree and as my disturbance settles the birds start to show up. Some of my coolest bird sightings and experiences have happened this way.
Learn faster…
Next, you will learn faster. Have you ever struggled to learn new bird songs, species distributions, latin names, or field marks between similar species? The nature journal offers a variety of learning benefits many of which are turning out to be backed up by science. For example, the externalization of thinking on paper helps with objectivity and catching cognitive biases. Also, using your whole brain through drawing, words, and numbers has major mental benefits. 
Improved memory…
In addition to better learning in general, nature journaling can specifically improve your memory. Have you ever had a species name that kept slipping your mind? One time, I kept blanking on cedar waxwings for some reason. Equally important to remember are the names of your birding acquaintances. “Was it Jennifer or Georgia?” Even if you still can’t remember their name you can look it up in your notes from the last birding trip.
Experience more joy…
In the long run most birders hit a plateau. They start to feel less joy in their backyard birding. As a result only exotic trips can get them the high they used to feel. There is nothing wrong with a trip to the Galapagos or Ecuadorean cloud forest to see some crazy ornitohological highlights. In fact I would be a big hypocrite to say so. However, nature journaling can help us enjoy even so-called “trash birds” with the un-jaded eyes of a five year old.
“The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.“
— Marcel Proust
Leave a legacy..
Have you ever read an old letter or diary entry from one of your grandparents or great grandparents? What did that feel like? Can you imagine if that diary had been packed with sketches, observations, notes about bird calls and dates of migrant arrivals? How cool would that be? Now, I’m not suggesting that anyone is going to be kicking the bucket anytime soon but it is one of the benefits of nature journaling and birding combined. I don’t know about you but a legacy of photos on your iPad, unfindable Facebook posts, and your old eBird are not quite as romantic as real paper pages with handwriting and sketches. If you don’t want to think about leaving such a beautiful legacy to future generations do it for your future self. When you look back on those beautiful memories in 5 years you will thank me.
Why not just take photos?
You might be thinking that drawing, painting, and note taking on paper are a quaint Victorian thing of the past. Something Darwin used because they didn’t have cameras, iPhones, eBird, back then. Maybe you already have the best camera for birding. You have the best telephoto lenses for birding. Maybe you are even a professional bird photographer. After a session of birding you can just upload all of those perfect bird photos onto iNaturalist, eBird or another app where they are easily identified by artificial intelligence or professional birders. Why would you want to revert back to the larval stage of scribbling like a kindergartner? This is especially scary for people who are afraid of drawing. Let’s remember that in large part the drawing is a learning tool. Let’s start with that perspective and let the art part come with time.
“I have learned that what I have not drawn I have never really seen, and that when I start drawing an ordinary thing, I realize how extraordinary it is, sheer miracle.”
— Frederick Frank
Now that you are convinced, check out the video. It is designed as a 30 minute intro class to help birders get into nature journaling.
Just getting started with nature journaling?
Need more tips? If so, check out this post. It will walk you through how to nature journal in 10 steps.
Need help choosing nature journaling supplies? Check out Nature Journaling Supplies: What You Need and What You Do Not
Check out my Patreon for special access: www.patreon.com/MarleyPeifer
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