FALMOUTH — Chloe Hoffman, of Portland, put her yellow binoculars to her eyes and beamed.

“I can’t believe that flycatcher is still there —” she said, and groaned as the bird took flight.

Then, it flitted to a higher branch on a closer tree, giving Hoffman an even better view of its yellow belly and the tufted feathers on its head.

“Oh, that’s so cool,” Hoffman, 29, said. “What a good hairdo.”

Hoffman stood in a knot of 20-plus people at Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, where the scent of apple blossoms and the chorus of birds filled the early morning air.

Nearby, staff naturalist Doug Hitchcox listened to the calls and identified each species he heard. That dry trill that sounded a little like a sewing machine? A chipping sparrow, he said.

Hitchcox leads this walk year round on Thursday mornings. The birds are particularly active in Maine right now, which also means birders are busy with festivals, special events and meetups. It’s a great time to take up the hobby or see a new-to-you species, Hitchcox said.

“Spring migration is this amazing spectacle, but for a beginner, it can often be overwhelming,” Hitchcox said. “You’re getting dozens of bird names thrown at you, and if you’ve never heard what is a warbler versus a vireo, it can be a bit like drinking from a firehose, but it’s the best water you’ve ever tasted.”

A federal study published in 2024 found that 96 million people in the United States had either traveled one or more miles from home to observe birds, or tried to identify birds around their homes. That’s one in three people over the age of 16.

Hitchcox knows the stereotype that data might call to mind — perhaps older, white, wearing khaki — but said the hobby is becoming more inclusive and diverse. He often wishes the Maine Young Birders Club existed when he was in high school, for example.

In June, the new Maine chapter of the national Feminist Bird Club will host its first event at Owl’s Head State Park. The organizers aim to create a space that feels welcoming to all people, including those who might have felt excluded from birding because of their race, gender identity or experience level.

“We’re hoping to bring people together,” said Maeve Cosgrove, who is 28 and lives in Rockland. “We’re also hoping to bring down some of those barriers that stop people from going birding, to create that welcoming space where it’s OK to not know anything.”

Cosgrove, Emily Lebel, Britton Skuse and Danielle Olsen first connected online. When they finally met in person at Scarborough Marsh, their group organically doubled in size as they met new people on the path and invited them to join their walk.

“This group will hopefully make you feel less like an outsider,” Skuse, 30, of Belfast, said.

Birders recommended digital tools managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, including the Merlin app, which can help ID birds based on characteristics and sounds. People of all ages still reference printed field guides. (A public library is a great place to find one, and some lend birding kits or binoculars as well.) The Maine Birding Trail is another suggested resource.

Hitchcox encouraged newbies to not get discouraged if they can’t come up with a detailed species name.

“If you can at least figure out what family the bird is in, you’re doing pretty good,” he said. “It’s really like learning a new language. It’d be easier for people to learn the difference between a warbler and a finch than to be looking at all these things that are yellow and trying to figure out what’s the color on the wing and all that.”

The Thursday morning group at Gilsland Farm includes all levels. The well-worn patches on Frank Paul’s sun hat — representing the American Birding Society, the Belize Audubon Society, the Maine Audubon — reflect decades of experience. Mark Richards, of Portland, took up the hobby more recently when he retired. As he stood on a blustery bluff overlooking the Presumpscot River, he followed directions from Hitchcox to spot a cluster of black-bellied plovers, a new species for him.

“I’m always out walking and hiking,” Richards, 67, said. “I figured I would pay more attention. This is an easy way to do that.”

Portland residents Jacqui Baker and Ethan Daly, both 26, joined the walk before their regular work days.

“I really like starting my day like this,” Baker said, who took up the hobby a few months ago when she received a pair of binoculars as a birthday gift.

Daly had been casually interested in birding for years, but now he’s in a friendly competition with his family to see who can spot the most species this year.

“When you find yourself at Florida Lake in Freeport at 5:30 a.m., you know it’s getting serious,” he joked.

Time to test your wings

Here are a few upcoming events and festivals that might interest a fledgling birder.

• The Maine Audubon hosts lots of walks and events throughout the year across the state, including the free Thursday morning walks at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth from 7-9 a.m. Bring your binoculars, but if you don’t have a pair, ask the leader for a loaner. The organization will also host an accessible birding session at Gilsland Farm on May 30 from 9:30-11 a.m. The route will be a 900-foot loop on flat gravel and compacted lawn, with frequent stops and seats available. Binoculars will be provided, and the program is free. For more information about these programs and others, visit maineaudubon.org.
• The new Maine chapter of the Feminist Bird Club will host “Brunch with Birds” at Owl’s Head State Park from 10 a.m. to noon on June 14. The event is a potluck, and participants can observe from the picnic area and make new connections. Registration is not required, and more information is available on Instagram @fbcmaine.
• Upcoming festivals include the Acadia Birding Festival from May 28-31, the Feathers Over Freeport Birding Festival from May 30-31 and the Rangeley Birding Festival from June 4-7. Visit the festival websites for more information.