Single Point vs. Auto Area D90

I just got my first DSLR yesterday and I'm wondering if single point is better for beginners? I took some shots today and it seems some are way out of focus using auto area. I'm thinking the camera locked onto the wrong thing and what I wanted to be the subject ended up not in focus. Even the ones that are in focus look not so great when viewed at 100%. Should I try single point and do the focus and recompose thing or stick with auto area?

I'd share a pic but they are just of some birds (geese, ducks, pigeons) and they are horrible