"This is a Merganser. He's got the best hairdo in the bird world," said Audubon naturalist Lauren Parmelee, at the introduction of a recent beginner birding class at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk. Lauren had set out images of birds that the class might encounter on the morning's bird walk, in an effort to aid in identification. The Merganser, the impressively-mohawked Glen Plake of the duck world, is pretty easy to identify. Other birds don't reveal themselves so readily. To aid in identification, students are told to ask themselves 8 questions: What shape is the body? What shape is the bill? What colors do you see? Where is the color? Is there a particular feature? How big is it relative to others? What is it doing? Where is it? Though experts will also rely on bird calls for identification, for the beginning birder, these questions (and a comprehensive field guide) will get you far.

Birdwatching — or "Birding", as the dedicated prefer to describe their hobby — observing birds for the fun of it (as opposed to scientific research or hunting), dates back to the late 1700's. Specimens were collected, and using birds as adornment, especially their feathers, became very popular. It was not until the Victorian Era, in both the United States and England, that efforts to protect birds rose in popularity. Birdwatching came into its own with the development of optical aids and guides like "Birds Through an Opera Glass" by Florence Bailey. Dating to 1889, it was the first field guide published in the U.S.

A resident of Newport, Lauren credits her parents for developing her keen appreciation for the natural world, particularly near her childhood home in Storrs, CT. With 35 years as an environmental educator and naturalist (and apparently the eyesight of a raptor) the birds of Caratunk were not going to escape Lauren's notice. In little more than an hour, she pointed out at least 10 species, including Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal and Black-capped Chickadee.

"Habits do vary, and for some birds, habitat really matters," said Lauren. "Bluebirds, for example, can be found in the meadows typical of the habitat found at Caratunk. This is an amazing property, with fields, woods, a pond, and a creek."

May is birding season in New England, when the migration paths of multiple species stop over to breed, before continuing north, or, in the case of some species, returning south. "They come here for the bugs," said Lauren. "Unlike down in South America where there is so much competition, they can really stuff their young full of protein here. It's all about the bugs."

To get a sense of how biodiverse the May migration is, Lauren suggested that an experienced birder might spot 25 species in a day on a midwinter birding expedition. At the height of spring migration, that same birder might see 65 species in a day.

Birding is something anyone can enjoy, and you don't have to go further than your own back yard to do it. "It's amazing the way it wakes you up to nature, and gives you an excuse to get outside," said Lauren. "Some people travel around the world to do it….In RI it even gets people to cross bridges!"

"I'm still learning and I've been birding for 30 years. It's like a treasure hunt. Birds will amaze you."

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers free, weekday birding walks in May at locations throughout the state, with additional events and opportunities on the weekends to make the make the most of this unique season. For more information, visit www.asri.org.