THEBirdsong has a relaxing power. Various scientific studies attest to this: people who listen to the chirping on headphones feel calmer and less anxious. When you take a walk in nature, in an urban park or in a forest, the easiest animals to see or hear are birds.
«We particularly appreciate birds for their flight and colors» comments Marco Gustin, head of Species and Research of the Italian League for Bird Protection (Lipu). To make our walks more stimulating and fun, you can become a birdwatcherr.
Falling in love with birds is easy: you start as a game – driven by curiosity – and you are captivated. «The average Italian, not a birdwatcher, can only recognize about ten species», points out Gustin. We know dog breeds better than the over 500 species of birds that populate Italian territory.
Five reasons to become a birdwatcher
To become a birdwatcher you don’t need to be an ornithologist. You can learn, one step at a time. Lipu lists five reasons for doing so. Firstas Italians we have the privilege of living in a country rich in birdlife, located on the route between Africa and Northern Europe followed by migrants.
Secondbirdwatching can be practiced with friends, children or other enthusiasts. Thirdby walking to see or hear the birds we unknowingly carry out a physical activity that is good for the body. Fourthin the garden or in the park it is possible to observe the life of these exceptional living beings, which descend directly from dinosaurs: love affairs, fights for territory, caring for their young, searching for food.
Fifth and last reason, the birdwatcher can become a useful collaborator of ornithologists and contribute to the protection of birds. An important requirement: the aspiring birdwatcher must be armed with patience. Nature is not a zoo. It may happen that you organize an empty outing, or on the contrary you suddenly manage to spot a specimen you have never seen before.
Recognize the singing of birds
«The first step is to spot the birds together with someone who knows them and who can help us identify the flight of each species, or recognize their song» explains Gustin. If we don’t have an already expert friend, just go online to find some associations. Or you can contact the nearest Lipu Oasis: they are usually organized on weekends guided tours with moments of observation. A manual is a useful tool for recognition. For example, the Guide to the birds of Europe by Lars Svensson (Ricca publisher), accompanied by illustrations. Or Birds of Europe. Identification guide. In addition, illustrated books offer the opportunity to see both the male and the female, which are often different in color.
The stonechat weighs 13 grams and reaches an altitude of 600 metres. Photo: Roberto Parmiggiani
There are also apps that allow you to identify which bird is it?. Which one do you recommend? «Merlin Bird Identification. It’s free and recognizes birds also by song, as well as by photo» suggests Gustin. If you want to train your memory of the different songs, on the Lipu website: there are 300 cards with the most common birds in Italy, their characteristics and a very useful sound track for each.
Observe with discretion
For birdwatching trips, comfortable, camouflage clothing is recommended. The golden rule is to observe without disturbing. Never get too close to the nests and avoid shouting and making noise. To observe, an optical instrument is used. «The telescope is indicated when the bird is distant, for example along a sea coast or a lake. The most common ones magnify from 20x to 60x (20x means that the object appears 20 times closer than it is to the naked eye, ed.)» points out Gustin. «Binoculars are useful when we are, for example, in a forest and the distance between us and the animal is relatively short. An 8x or 10x model is sufficient. To start, I recommend binoculars, which are more generalist and versatile. It can go well in the park in the city and in the woods.” A piece of advice: before launching into a purchase, do a few outings to make sure that you are truly passionate about this activity. The prices of binoculars can range from 100 to 3000 euros, spotting scopes start from 700-800 euros.
Curious young birdwatchers with binoculars in a Lipu oasis. (Ester Mantero)
«It is useful to bring a notebook with you where you can write down your observations (place of sighting, length of legs, colours, etc.) and perhaps make a sketch. This material can be used for subsequent research in the guide” says Gustin. Do birdwatching and photography go together? «Not always» comments the Lipu expert. «The number of photographers driven only by the desire for the perfect photo has increased exponentially. Some have no qualms about disturbing the birds.” You can take photographs, but remain at a safe distance and in silence. The photo helps the birdwatcher to confirm what he has seen or to understand what it is. As you become more experienced, you can participate in a “citizen science” project. As? “For example, inserting your comments on ornitho.ita platform of 15 thousand birdwatcher and researcher users in Italy. This contributes to the work of scholars and to conservation».
City birds, including blackbirds, doves and crows
Which species are most common in the city? “Blackbirds, sparrows, collared doves, pigeons, wood pigeons, crows and magpies, collared parakeets,” says Gustin. «In the center and south, during the winter there are starlings, which crowd the tree-lined squares. In Rome also the herring gull». There are also birds of prey: kestrels and peregrine falcons may use high places, like bell towers, to lay eggs. We also coexist with barn owls, owls, scops owls, tawny owls and owls but we cannot see them because they are nocturnal. We can try to listen to them. Also try to hear the song of the blackbird: the best hours are at dusk and dawn, if there are trees in your area. Spotting nests in the city is not easy: with a bit of luck you can spot those of swallows – they love porches, the beams in farmhouses – and of house martins, under the eaves of roofs.
The journey of the “chiffchaff”, from the Alps to Namibia
In spring and autumn, many species pass through Italya golden opportunity to see birds not normally present here. An example is the Chiffchaff, a passerine weighing less than 9 grams that nests from the Alps to Sweden and winters south of the Sahara, in the equatorial forests of the Congo or in Namibia. «On its journey north in spring it has its sites where it “stays” in Italy, in particular the small islands from Liguria to Sicily, where it stops for a day to rest and refresh itself. His journey can last up to a month” says Gustin.
A white Him. Photo: Luigi Sebastiani
«The Chiffchaff lives for about 5 years, in which it can travel 50-100 thousand km only during migration». In northern Italy, the Po Valley does not offer an ideal space for bird observation. «Birds need a diversity of environments, the presence of hedges and woods. The provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena, with stable meadows and alfalfa for the cows that produce Parmigiano Reggiano, have more birdlife” explains the expert. «The presence of prey in the meadows in these areas attracts diurnal birds of prey such as kestrels, the false cuckoo and the lesser kestrel. In the Oltrepò Pavese, on the hills, there are the woodlark and the nightingale. The Roman and Abruzzo countryside are also rich in birdlife.”
Autumn in the Lipu oases: among herons, ducks, larks and marsh harriers
Lipu has 30 oases and sites throughout Italy. For an autumn visit, here are the places suggested by Marco Gustin.
«The Brabbia Marsh in the province of Varese, where there are herons, ducks, cormorants, marsh harriers, passerines. At the oasis of Castel di Guido, in Rome, you can see woodland birds such as larks, stonechats and lapwings. In Sicily, the Biviere di Gela nature reserve is a resting place for migratory birds. You can spot aquatic species such asmarbled duck, ferruginous duck, waders such as the glossy ibis and the spoonbill, and herons».
In Rome, the Le Ali del Jubileo initiative was launched, the first illustrated map of birds nesting in churches and monuments along the Jubilee routes (Pandion Edizioni) which offers pilgrims but also residents the opportunity to discover the birds that live in the capital. EuroBirdwatch (the 33rd edition will be held in 2026) is the most important European event dedicated to birdwatching: last 5 and 6 October 52 events were held in Italy organized by Lipu, which is a partner of the BirdLife International network with 35 countries involved.