Drawing from lectures given at the Allegany School of Natural History, the author presents an encouraging and stimulating introduction for novice ornithologists. Areas of interest include identification of birds in the field, keeping notes and records, watching the migration the nesting cycle, studying bird nests and bird behavior, songs and calls, feathers, plumage, colors, food , ecology, and conservation. In introducing these subjects, our guide brings up points for further exploration through which the bird watcher in the field can further the science of ornithology.