Kim Barraclough
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 23/99) - Bird watching is a popular summer activity and easy to get started in.

Although bird watching is a fairly independent activity, there are a couple of items a birder will certainly need to get going. So says John McKay, an air quality technologist with environmental protection and an avid bird watcher.

"All you need is a field guide and a pair of binoculars," said McKay.

Bug dope may also be essential, depending upon where the birder is headed.

As far as field guides go, McKay recommends Birds of North America by National Geographic or one of the Peterson Field Guides.

In and around the Yellowknife area there are many different species of birds. You can spot anything from the common raven to the very rare eskimo curlew.

One can get a checklist for the NWT from the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre and, armed with the list, you can determine how many out of the all the possible species you can spot.

According to McKay, the best season to bird watch is early spring and summer because that's mating season and the birds are more brightly coloured and far more vocal. Also, there are fewer leaves on the trees to camouflage the birds.

McKay also said the time of day can be a factor when it comes to the best bird watching.

"Most (bird watchers) say the morning," said McKay.

Two of the places around Yellowknife that are recommended for bird watching are Niven Lake and Frame Lake.