Bird watching is a hobby that can keep someone engrossed for hours on end. In fact, the only limit to enjoying this pursuit for nature lovers is patience.

There are plenty of places where one can go bird watching, including your own back garden, bird sanctuaries, the local park, specialist reserves or indeed anywhere where there is suitable habitat.

Wild birds are in reality all over the place because they travel far and wide dependant on the time of year. However, birds generally gather in places with a suitable environment,which is not contaminated with human or industrial waste.

Someone who is just beginning with this pastime should refer to a bird watching field guide to make sure he knows something about birds and how to distinguish them from one another. Knowing what you are looking at is, after all, the whole point of bird watching, so make sure that you have a good bird book to refer to when you spot a species you don't recognise.

There is a school of thought which says that the best place to go bird watching is near a river, lake or other body of water. I'm sure we'd all agree that bird watching from a boat combines the delight of going boating and watching birds at the same time; killing two birds with one stone, as it were. However, if you're going bird watching from a boat, choose your season; summer is good for birds flocking along rivers but spring and autumn will see migrating birds. Winter isn't good for you or the birds as even water birds will be less in evidence due to the cold.

Because of the quiet and tranquility of most bodies of water, bird watching from a boat can give one the advantage of being able to hear the birds calling clearly. Equally, as long as you are quiet too, the silence of the area may tempt even the shyest of birds to make a public appearance.

Know your area so that you will be aware of what species to look for. Get to know whether they are natives or migrants and if the former, what sort of habitat they prefer. For the latter, you need to know their migration paths and timings to get the best views.

Bird watching can be a fun and fulfilling hobby that can be pursued alone or in the company of friends or family. It can be bonding time for a father and son or even for the whole family. Anyone can have fun bird watching without spending too much money. However, it's well worth investing some cash in appropriate bird books for your area and spending the time reading them as well as learning bird identification tecniques. Lastly, if you're going bird watching from a boat, don't forge to check your local regulations and observe basic safety precautions such as wearing life jackets and taking some means of communication with you such as a mobile telephone or if there is no reception, emergency flares.