eBird Explore: Find the Bird, Then Read Your Odds
Explore turns eBird from a notebook into a trip planner. Route your question to the right tool, then read a bar chart for what it is: a reporting rate.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 21, 2026
The Blog
Birding guides & honest gear advice
Practical, jargon-free birding advice — gear comparisons, backyard how-tos, and the answers to questions every new birder has. No fluff, no gatekeeping.
Showing 7 posts tagged #field-skills
Confusing Fall Warblers: Read the Underside First
Field guides draw warblers in profile; the canopy shows you the underside. A five-species key read from below, plus the two pairs that are genuinely hard.
Hilly Shore Labs5 min·August 17, 2026
Bald Cardinals and Quiet Yards: August Molt Explained
Bald cardinals, silent mornings and ragged jays are one story: molt. What it costs a bird, an August field key, and two questions science hasn't settled.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 6, 2026
How to Plan Your First Hawk Watch: Day, Wind, Site
At a hawk watch the date matters more than the place. Ninety years of counts from one ridge show where the big days fall, and how to pick yours.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 4, 2026
Fall Migration: What to Look For in August and September
Fall migration runs mid-August to mid-November, and it is harder than spring: drab plumage, almost no song, more juveniles. A week-by-week guide.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·July 30, 2026
How to Identify an Unknown Bird: 5 Clues
Identify an unfamiliar bird by recording five clues in order: shape, bill, behavior, habitat, and sound. Color comes later.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·July 22, 2026
How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Practical Method
Birding by ear is a memory skill, not a musical gift. Learn 10 local singers first, describe sounds by quality, and use Merlin the honest way.
Hilly Shore Labs5 min·July 19, 2026