Essential Bird Watching Equipment
This guide will teach you on the bird watching equipment that you should never leave your house for all birding events.
Here is the deal…
Birding can be a cheap hobby that anyone can engage in. It involves visiting the field where the birds live and enjoying their different behaviors.
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Birds live in different habitats including forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, beaches among others. Anytime you have an opportunity to visit these areas you have a chance to enjoy this favorite hobby.
Whether you are a seasoned birder, or you are just beginning bird watching, you have to learn the birding equipment’s to carry for a particular field. The birding equipment will enhance your birding experience making it enjoyable.
What do you need to have a close look at a bird…
Spotting Scope
When in need of a close look at a rare bird, choose a spotting scope as you go for bird watching. They will bring the bird just next to your eye.
MORE: Click here to see the Best Spotting Scope
Spotting scopes have incredible magnification. They also have a lightweight package making your field work easy. They are one of the best birding optics due to the high quality.
They are also reported to be very durable.
Here is the best tip…
How to choose a Spotting Scope
A serious bird watcher will make a good budgetary arrangement to the best spotting scope. Most of the times, the cost of a scope indicates its quality. But it is very advisable to buy what you can afford.
When visiting the bird watching equipment and bird watching accessories stores; have a prior knowledge of the best types of scopes. Match the best scope in terms of quality for the price you are willing to spend.
A spotting scope of a fixed power eyepiece, with a 30X wide angle and a high power zoom eye piece, is effective for distance bird watching. It can be effective for viewing tough distance birds such as hawks and even in sea watching.
You really need to know this…
How to use a Spotting Scope
Most bird watching scopes have an angled design or a straight through design. The straight models will be great when watching distant birds. The angled scopes can be used when you are in your car. When setting up the scope simply make the tripod height suitable for your height. Then set up your spotting scopes on the tripod. Unlike the straight through scopes, the angled spotting scopes can be used without lowering the tripod because they can be easily rotated. If you wear eyeglasses ensure your scope provides relief for your eyes even when zoomed to high power. Just focus the scopes to the birds and start enjoying.
Bird Watching Binoculars
A Bird Watching Binocular is a cheap instrument you need in your eyes to observe the birds. They will help you view the bird from its resting place. This is important as you will not disturb the bird.
MORE: Click here to see the best Bird Watching Binoculars
You need to know how to select the best binoculars for birding from the bird watching supplies and equipment. It is also important to learn how to use them.
Look into this…
How to choose Birding Binoculars [4 Tips]
Tip #1 Comfort
Your binoculars must give you comfort in the field. The binoculars should not be too heavy to carry around or to lift them into your eyes.
Tip #2 Eye Relief
The binoculars should be good to your eyes. They should never strain the eyes.
Tip #3 Focusing Wheel
You should be able to move the focusing wheel easily. This will help to focus the far away birds easily.
Tip #4 Neck Strap
Make sure the bird watching binoculars have a neck strap for easy carrying in the field. The strap should be comfortable for your neck. It shouldn’t be too long or too short. It should also allow you to do other things as you continue with your field work.
How to use Birding Binoculars
It is important to get used to birding binoculars before going to the field.
Binoculars have two central focusing wheels. The central wheel should be used to bring the object into clear view. When focusing close one eye and use the diopter to sharpen the image. This should be done for both eyes.
Practice this before going to the field.
Buying recommendations
When in the accessory shop…
Binoculars have a huge range of prices. Quality may increase with price. Spend what you can afford. It is also important to consider the habitat you are likely to visit. Different binoculars can be effective in different habits. For example, a lower spectrum binocular can be effective when watching British birds in the urban areas but not in the forests. This is because the urban birds are closely located.
Have you seen this?
Magnification of the binoculars determines how large the bird will appear. For binoculars labeled 8×32, 8 is -the magnification number while 32 is the field of view.
A small magnification will give you a bright image and also a large field of view. Large magnification may give you less bright image although you will be able to view further. A magnification of 7, 8, 10X is good for bird watching.
Wildlife camera
Look…
The wildlife camera will give you amazing images for the birds. You can use it in the garden and also in the field. High-resolution cameras are perfect. They are suitable for professional birders.
When using the camera you just need to slide out the drawer to reveal the lens.
There are two main types of cameras for bird watching. These include the trail camera and the Wingscapes BirdCam. Check on the sensitivity of the camera before purchase.
MORE: Click here to see the best Wildlife Cameras
Field Recorder
When in the field create bird recordings for long-lasting mementos of the birding experience. A field recorder goes beyond the reach of your ears.
It will “catch” the distant sounds. You should learn on best ways to operate a field recorder to facilitate smooth recording.
For example, it is possible to follow a moving sound silently without moving your feet. This will help you record the most important sounds in the field rather than unnecessary noises.
These sounds, you can save them to your computer so as to retain the memories. A field recorder is, therefore, an important tool for your birding.
MORE: Click here to see the best Field Recorder for Birding
Birding is a great experience. Having the right bird watching gear beautifies the experience. These are the instruments that you should ensure you carry along during bird watching to make it effective.