I'm want to take up birding and don't know where to start.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. First things, book and binoculars.

The binoculars don't have to be expensive ones, but you will enjoy seeing birds close up.

I started slow, by just putting up some bird feeders and getting to know the local birds. Plus, it helped me to get used to using the binoculars.

It was a good suggestion to join a local birder club. Let the people with knowledge teach you, but I sometimes get discouraged with the people who seem to know all the birds and bird calls...don't let them make you feel overwhelmed.

My favorite bird book is the Golden Field Guide, but it is not the most popular one. You might want to join a bird club before getting a field guide, since you will probably learn to use the guide that they like best.

http://www.amazon.com/Birds-North-America-Identification-Martins/dp/1582380902/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443750857&sr=1-1&keywords=singer+bird+guide