| Gear and the Birder | | | | consumer, but it has also led to increasing |
| | | | quality in optics. |
| Just what are the essentials for the novice | | | | |
| birder? Two essentials are a pair of | | | | For the beginner, lower magnifications (7x, |
| binoculars and the field guide. This is true | | | | 8x) are best primarily because they offer a |
| for backyard birders who largely want to | | | | greater field of view. The field of view is |
| enjoy the birds that come to feeders or | | | | the linear feet viewable at 1000 yards. The |
| birdbaths and for those adventurous souls who | | | | large field of view is especially important |
| take to the field. The field guide is an | | | | to the novice birder in locating a bird. |
| inexpensive compliment to binoculars which | | | | Higher magnifications help with detail which |
| require a bit more consideration. | | | | the more experienced birder may wish to |
| | | | enjoy. |
| The field guide—now, that might be a | | | | |
| misnomer for those around home birders. | | | | Other aspects of binoculars one should |
| Really, this is a resource which helps one | | | | consider include the ease and quickness of |
| learn to identify the birds, wherever they | | | | focus, the amount of eye relief, weight, |
| may be. The best guide is one that fits the | | | | closeness of focus, and water and fog |
| individual birder’s needs and is | | | | proofing. Some of these are self explanatory. |
| easiest for him to use. There is no secret | | | | However, eye relief is a term worth defining |
| formula. Once you’ve found the one you | | | | for viewers that must wear eyeglasses. Eye |
| like, keep it handy and use it often. At | | | | relief has to do with how far images are |
| first, one should concentrate on just trying | | | | projected from the ocular lens to their focal |
| to identify the family to which the bird | | | | point. Eyeglass wearers need 14-15 mm, at |
| might belong, blackbirds, orioles, finches, | | | | minimum. Close focus may be a consideration |
| woodpeckers, wrens etc. Believe me, it is a | | | | if one looks for butterflies as well as |
| significant and meaningful first step; not a | | | | birds. A close focus of 4.5 to 5 ft is |
| difficult one. | | | | excellent. Water and fog proofing is better |
| | | | accomplished by the newer technology, the |
| A good pair of binoculars is essential to | | | | roof prism, because focusing can be |
| improving one’s ability to identify. | | | | accomplished internally. |
| One can spend any amount of money on | | | | |
| binoculars, but one should avoid a cheap | | | | The novice will find that it takes only a |
| pair. We enjoy a time when there is much | | | | couple of items to begin enjoying this |
| competition in the optics industry that there | | | | pastime. Now, go grab a field guide and your |
| are numerous models and types of binoculars. | | | | binoculars and happy birding. |
| This may have led to confusion for the | | | | |