By Andrea Faas
Riding my bicycle is a wonderful way to reconnect and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. During May, I celebrated Bird Month by going on birding bike rides, where I paid close attention to the birds along my route.
These were casual, slow trail rides that included frequent stops. I wore lightweight binoculars around my neck or carried my full-sized binoculars in my bike bag or backpack. I also carried my phone loaded with the Merlin Bird ID app to help with bird identification.
A note on safety: When searching or looking at birds more closely, I’ve found it safer to dismount from my bike. Most of my falls have been due to stopping or simply standing over my bike, resulting in a skinned knee and hurt pride.
The Cowboy Trail
In late May, I biked the Cowboy Trail and traveled 4 miles along the Elkhorn River. I stopped near bridges and other interesting places to look for avian life. Initially upon stopping, it might seem like there were few birds around. But if I stayed quiet and still and waited a while, more birds would resume calling and moving nearby.
Soon, I spotted brown thrasher, red-eyed vireo, gray catbird and yellow warblers flying and singing. While biking farther, mourning doves, wrens, swallows, catbirds and pheasants were easily heard or seen from the trail.
When I was unsure of a species, I used the Merlin Bird ID app to help me identify birds by their calls. One time, the app picked up the call of the bobolink, so I was able to confirm the bird in my binoculars. Soon after, I realized that there were several of them, and together they sounded like a group of R2D2s chattering away in the field.
Other Public Areas
If the Cowboy Trail is difficult for you to access, try riding on gravel roads through the countryside. I sometimes ride to a state recreation area or wildlife management area.
On these longer, more challenging rides, I stopped only occasionally to keep my momentum, so it was more difficult to identify or count every bird I saw. Instead, I used the long, slow climbs as opportunities to look around and listen carefully. I’m often rewarded with sights and sounds of red-headed woodpeckers, dickcissels, red-winged blackbirds and vultures. The occasional kestrel or harrier would make my day. It’s helpful to know common bird calls and key ID traits so that you’re not having to pull out your phone or ID book repeatedly.
When I finally reach my destination, whether it’s a park or natural area, I like to stop for a snack break, record my bird list and scan the area for rose-breasted grosbeaks, bobwhite quail and meadowlarks.
For me, birds add to the enjoyment and freedom of riding my bicycle. Their songs, presence and habits make bike rides — and life — more interesting. So, the next time you are out for a trail ride, and you take a break, look around and listen for birds. You might experience something unexpected that adds to your ride.