COE-Outdoor Birding Basics

So, first and foremost, check the weather Monday or Wednesday night so you know what to expect as far as temps and potential precipitation is concerned. Dressing for the outdoors (particularly during the spring and fall shoulder seasons) is all about layering.

Layer 1 is your underwear layer. Ideally you should have at least one pair of long underwear (top and bottom) that is either wool or a synthetic material (NOT COTTON!). Layer 2 would then be an insulating layer for your upper body. this can be either a wool sweater or fleece jacket/pullover (NOT COTTON!). layer 2 for your bottom half is ideally a synthetic or wool pant (NOT COTTON!). Layer 3 would then be your wind/waterproof layer (i.e. rain coat & rain pants). Your socks should be either wool or a wool blend (NOT COTTON!). Taking along a hat and gloves would be a good idea given our cold morning temps in early spring. Lastly, your footwear ideally should be some type of trail shoe or hiking boot with a vibram sole. clearly sneakers will work, however we might be hiking through mud/water if mother nature throws us a spring shower or two.

Why am I so down on cotton? Cotton loses its ability to retain heat when wet. Additionally, it takes a long time for a cotton garment to dry once it becomes wet. Both of these qualities make cotton a poor choice when dressing to be outside. A quick experiment you can do to experience this, is to take a cotton sock and a wool sock and soak them both in water. Then, wring each out and put one on each arm (actually slide your hands/forearms into each sock). You will notice over time that the arm/hand in the damp wool sock will be warmer than the arm/hand in the damp cotton sock. This demonstrates the delta in heat retention between cotton and wool. When outdoors and active, your clothes will become damp if not wet from either sweat or precipitation. That is why it is in your best interest to dress in wools/synthetics if your goal is to remain comfortable while outside. Make sense?

Download this .PDF (Layering) to learn more about how to dress to make sure you enjoy our outdoor excursions…