Bird Watching Equipment

Birdwatching or birding is one of the most popular hobbies in the world.  Everybody from all walks of life and ages have enjoyed birdwatching.  Birders try to find more species than their competitors in a given amount of time.  There are even people who try to be the first one to spot a specie that is migrating across their area.

To enjoy birdwatching, the only equipment that you really need is your eyes for observing.  Birds can be identified by their sound alone.  There are guide books that can help birdwatchers to identify birds.

The basic equipment for birdwatchers is a binocular.  With binoculars, they will bring all birds up close so you see them clearly, a high quality binocular could even let you see feather details of a bird which is hundreds of feet away.

Binoculars are indispensable for a birdwatcher.  Binoculars come in different shapes, sizes and specifications.  It is not only suitable and can be used for birding, but also for other sporting events, concerts, star gazing, hiking, fishing, nature observation and more.
There is no binocular perfect for all the situations, it is important to determine the primary use to choose the best binocular suitable for your needs.

The large 7 by 50 binoculars are one of the most popular.  The first number refer to the magnification power of the binocular and the second number refers to the diameter of the front lens in millimeters.  A larger diameter lens means for light can enter the binocular and the image would be brighter

Another birdwatching equipment is the spotting scope.  A spotting scope is a compact telescope for observing something beyond the range of a typical binocular.  It was designed primarily for astronomy, it is designed with a shorter focal length for lower magnifications compared to telescopes.  It is suitable for long distance birdwatching.

When boirdwatching and holding a binocular and telescope, you cannot avoid vibrations and tremors because the hands and fingers cannot hold the equipment stable anymore.  So many birdwatchers invest on good and stable tripods.  Looking at stable images or through stable equipment reduces headache or eye strain.

A perfect tripod is lightweight, rigid, strong, portable, easy to set up, inexpensive and tall enough for comfortable viewing.  Investing in a stable and high quality tripod can complement the high precision optical instrument that you have.

Field guides are also important birdwatcher tool.  When purchasing the first
Field guide, it is best to start with one that displays paintings of birds rather than photographs.  Paintings allow artists to include all distinguishing features that help identify a bird in each illustration.  Birdwatchers also carry around a little notebook for their fielding notes.  They would record the birds that they saw and even writes the description.

Taking photographs of birds will preserve the memory and experience.  Digital cameras that we have today have built-in zooming capabilities.  This make focusing on distant objects and taking a clear picture of them a lot easier.

Some birdwatchers would also bring hats and a birding vest whenever they go birdwatching.  A birding vest is where you can put your binoculars, field guide, pen and notebook.  Rain gear is a must is some areas.  Whether may turn suddenly and get nasty, it is better to be prepared.

For long distance birdwatching expeditions, bird watchers carry some first aid kit and some snacks and bottled water.

Bird Watching Tips

Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activity.  If you are one of those who are interested in this activity, there are some tips that would make this experience a notch higher.

For birdwatching newbies, identifying a bird can be challenging.  Birds are active and fast moving animals and you need to spot as many details as possible in a short period of time.  There are some tips that experienced bird watchers do to maximize the short and precious time for viewing.

Once a bird is immediately spotted, maximize every moment of seeing and observing the bird.  Take note of its markings, movements, song, feeding habits and size, you can also start sketching things that catch your eye.  Get the most out of the time that you that specie in front of you.

Birdwatching is more of a auditory activity.  Birds are best identified by their vocalization compared to how they look like.  Listening to a bird’s vocalization is simple but it’s also easy to forget.  When identifying a certain song to a bird, notice the movement of the bill.  This would make sure that the song is indeed coming from that specific bird.

Knowing or estimating the approximate size and shape will give many clues about the bird’s family.  Begin with the bird’s appearance, overall.  Also notice the body shape and the silhouettes. Also notice details in the head and the bill characteristics.    After the head and the bill, notice the bird’s body, wings and tail.  After observing the body, study the bird’s legs.

Observing how the bird walks and how it moves can also determine the specie of the bird.  If possible, try to determine what the bird eats or how it eats.  Also note the habitat, region and climate where you have observed the bird.  You can do this even after the bird has left.  Each region has their own type of bird, depending on their weather condition.  Note of the region where you have observed the bird. Also, birds migrate so make sure that you have taken into consideration the time of the year.

Make sure to jot down your observation for later reference.  Write down anything that you have noticed, it can help when you later sit down with a field guide to confirm the bird’s species.

Equipment wise, a pair of good binoculars helps to locate and identify the distant birds.  Bird watchers can watch colored clothing to blend with the surroundings.  Long sleeved cotton shirts, long pants and leech socks help protect you from insects and leeches.  Field boots will keep your feet dry and provide traction on slippery terrain.

When bird watching in parks, there are some that provide shelters, both elevated and  ground level.  These assist bird watchers and photographers alike.   When photographing birds, use long- range lenses and flash equipment.

When bird watching with friends or with family and suddenly you have spotted a rare bird specie, don’t give vague directions.  Be as specific as you can, first use large points of reference, then get more detailed.  Once the person is looking at the right object, use the clock system to pinpoint the direction.  To give the proper directions, you can practice when you’re birding alone.  

Bird watching is a recreational activity that is best experienced when you know how to make the best out of it.