Becoming a Better Birder

Amidst all of the many holiday events here in Cary, I had the chance to take in a worskhop at our local Stevens Nature Center with the theme "Becoming a Better Birder." And there are always ideas for improvement. My key take-aways:
(1) Study field guides. So much of bird identification can be made on the basis of nuances in field marks, habitat, and behavior. It's high time I reread my best guides.
(2) Learn bird songs and calls. Many of the birds we will "encounter" in the field will likely be hard if not impossible to see. And knowing a song could make the difference between finding a lifer and recognizing a more common bird. And I figure I have, well, maybe 100 more songs to learn just for the state birds!
(3) Use the best possible optics. Buy the finest binoculars you can afford. I have toted around 55 year old military grade gear. I've been giving serious thought to investing in modern instruments. I have a lot of shopping and research to do!
(4) And keep looking up (and out,) especially with someone who knows more birds. Repeat exposure improves those bird identification skills.
There's lots more I can do, and I'm looking forward to that education.