If you’re lucky, you might see a cedar waxwing this time of year. Photo by John Pastore.

My latest column for The Record offers six tips for better better in 2025. (And it features that great shot by John Pastore.)

By Jim Wright

Special to The Record | USA TODAY NETWORK - NEW JERSEY

    Starting a new year with resolutions is always a great idea for one simple reason: Good intentions are better than no intentions. With these six easy birding-related resolutions, there’s so much to gain and so little to lose. Here goes!   

   1. Go birding more often. I find watching birds quite relaxing, and it’s a great way to take your mind off more-pressing matters. When I get absorbed in watching a falcon or hawk, I get the same kind of high that I used to get when I ran long-distances back in the day.

   2. Keep a spare pair of binoculars in your car. You never know when an unusual raptor might pop into view. If you’ve been birding a while, chances are you’ve upgraded your optics along the way. Just keep the old pair in the trunk, or buy a used pair on eBay.

    3. Use the eBird and Merlin apps more often. They're free, after all, and they help you keep track of your sightings and identify birds.

    4. Look for birds in new places. When I travel this year – especially to the Jersey Shore – I want to visit all the great birding spots I’ve missed. 

   5. Join more group bird walks. More pairs of eyes see more birds, and it’s an easy way to make acquaintances and learn about other places to go birding. Bergen County Audubon Society offers a terrific variety of bird walks in warmer weather. (bergencountyaudubon.org)

  6. Stay current with bird-related news and learn more about fascinating birds and avian history. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society have excellent websites for basic information about birds and birding, but if you’re looking for something more-offbeat and engaging, I recommend four websites with weekly or monthly feeds.

    This Week in Birding and Bird News Items are two great ways to keep up with birding news (twibchicago.com, birditems.substack.com)

    Birdzilla, billed as “an easy-to-read site aimed at everyone interested in birds,” showcases a small but talented team of writers that offer plenty of fascinating articles. (birdzilla.com).
   Bird History presents a thoroughly researched and well-written article each month about topics ranging from “ominous owls” to canaries in coal mines. (birdhistory.substack.com/)

    Do you have any birding-related resolutions for the new year you’d like to share? Email me at [email protected].

    Field notes:  Bergen County Audubon Society is presenting an eagle festival in the Meadowlands on Sunday, Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. The free event features bird walks, live birds of prey, children’s activities, a talk on photographing raptors, and information tables, including a native American display. The snow date is Jan. 19.

The Bird Watcher column appears every other Thursday.