Binoculars for Birders

With the beginning of Spring it is time to consider investing in new binoculars. This is a proposition that can present itself in daunting ways. Careful consideration needs to be made whether a new birder or one who has spent some time in the field and acquired some expertise. The optics field is quite large and the number of products is considerable. How does one choose a binocular? Here are my suggestions.

First, determine just how and under what circumstances you will be using your new binoculars. If you are going to be walking then full size binoculars are certainly worth your consideration. However, if you are a backpacker or will be doing your birding on a bicycle, then you may wish to consider mid size or even compact binoculars. If you bird by sitting in a favorite spot, then larger binoculars could be your choice. Size matters when one considers the mode of birding. Size is dictated by the objective lens. Generally, if the objective lens is 50 mm then it is considered to be a large binocular; if it is 42 mm, it is full size; if it is 32 mm, it is a mid size. Finally, compacts have objective lenses 25 mm or less.

The size of the binocular will probably affect the way they feel in your hands. One should consider the ergonomics of one’s choice. In other words, does the model you are examining have the right heft? Do you feel comfortable while holding the binoculars to your eyes?

Coupled with the size of the objective is the light gathering ability of the lens and the field of view. Of course, the larger lenses tend to gather more light. The more important consideration should be the field of view. Those new to the game should consider obtaining a pair of binoculars that posses a large field of view. Field of view is often stated in feet viewable at 1000 yards. For example, the Stokes Talon has one of the largest field of view for its size lens, 420 ft. at 1000 yards.

One of the most significant advances in optics is in water and fog proofing. This has been accomplished in two ways. The first of which is changing the prism design. Roof prism binoculars are so much easier to water and fog proof because of internal focusing. The older porro prism design has external focusing and, therefore, is not easily water or fog proofed. The other facet to proofing is the gas used to purge the binocular.
Two gases are currently being used, nitrogen and argon.

Nitrogen and oxygen, if you remember, are the major components of air. Oxygen is the active ingredient while nitrogen is not. This basic chemistry is the reason for choosing nitrogen as the purging agent in many models. However, the real advancement is in the use of argon. The Argon Binocular is the newest class of binoculars. Argon is a member of the Noble Gases. Noble Gases were at one time called the Inert Gases because of their inability to react. In fact, they are so unreactive that it was not until the 20th Century that they were even discovered. The point is that argon is now being used because it does not attack the o-rings and seals in the binocular, thus allowing for excellent water and fog proofing and extending the life of your binocular.

One more word…in my opinion, one should be prepare to purchase a binocular worthy of your endeavors. Spend the money on a pair of binoculars that you can afford. Do not waste your hard earned cash on a pair of cheap ones. This advice is given in much the same vein as buying all the house you can afford. Let’s face it; you are going to possess these binoculars for a long time. You want to be able to see the bird with clarity and ease. You want to become adept at identifying a bird correctly. So, you must be able to see it in all conditions, including some adverse situations. Your willingness to increase your budget will often provide you with a return in performance of your purchase.

These tips hopefully will lend themselves to your benefit. Enjoy your new binoculars and spend as much time as you can in the field.

Cedar Waxwings

One of the great joys of migration is that twice a year I get to witness the gathering hundreds of these marvelous birds. Over the last couple of days their frenzied activity has occurred in my back yard, coming and going to the bird bath and feasting on the berries in the tress all around my yard and the neighbors'.

I was spending a good deal of time watching and trying for a good digiscoped photo of these when they exploded from the yard en masse and hightailed it for some distant shelter. Immediately searching the sky above me, I found a Cooper's Hawk gliding across the ravine headed my way.

GBH and Poetry

Photo by Bryan Stone

The Peace of Wild Things


When despair grows in me

and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting for their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry is a conservationist, farmer, essayist, Professor of English, and poet. He has been called the Prophet of Rural America by the New York Times.

Trouble for the Sabal Palm Audubon Center

Sabal Palm Audubon Center is located near Brownsville, Texas which puts it in conflict with the Border Fence. Under the current plan the Center will end up on the Mexico side. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced plans to bypass more than 30 environmental laws and regulations to facilitate the construction of the fence. Casualties of the plan not only include the Center but the Nature Conservancy’s Lennox Foundation Southmost Preserve. To read the full Associated Press Story click here.

Hummingbird Havens

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have crossed the expanse of the Gulf of Mexico and have been sited all along Texas, Louisiana, and Florida and they are moving inland. The hummers have found my backyard and feeders. It is time for all of us to get our backyards ready for them.

Bluntly put, there is huge fascination for these small bundles. It is just such fascination that fuels the desire to find a way to attract hummingbirds to our yards. How does one attract these amazing dynamos to your yard? It is a question often posed to me, sometimes in earnest and sometimes in frustration.

The solution to this problem is to garden for Hummers. Special attention must be given your choice of flowers and plants for nectar and trees in which to nest. It is important to remember that these birds are visual. They do not rely on odor, for they have no sense of smell. Consequently choose plants with colorful tubular flowers, red flowers being the best. And yes, there are plants that serve to attract butterflies as well as hummers. My preference is to choose native plants particular to your region, for these require the least maintenance and watering.

In the south, Texas Betony, Penstemon, Bee Balm, Blue Sage, Shrimp Plant, and Turk’s Cap are great choices. In the west, Firecracker Penstemon, Obedient Plant, Columbines fit the bill. In the northeast, one might try Fireweed, Cardinal Flower, Bee Balm, and Virginia Bluebells.

Nesting trees include but are not limited to Red Buckeye or Tulip tree in the south and southeast, Desert Willow in the southwest, California Buckeye and New Mexican Locust in the west, and Basswood in the Northeast.

One should offer feeders as well as flowers to these buzzing wonders. True, the birds will be attracted to the flowers and feed on them first. Yet, feeders will augment the food supply and continue to supply nourishment long after the blooms are gone. One should consider, when buying a hummingbird feeder, one that has a large number of ports. The more ports the less fighting will occur among these territorial birds. One even may want to buy multiple numbers of feeders and place them in different location around the yard to lessen this territorial conflict. Place feeders so that there is plenty of room to maneuver and escape for the hummers but close enough for easy access to cover. In other words, it is best if there is 360 degrees of access around the feeder but not too far from a tree or bush into which the hummer can find shelter.

Preparing your garden and feeders is a great outdoor adventure. This is one activity that will provide many months of delight. So, get things humming in your backyard!

BGBY Quarterly Report

The first quarter of 2008 is officially over. I thought I report on the species on my list so far. I've purposely narrowed my BGBY to on foot, in and around my neighborhood. I've been intrigued by this project because it may be a way of apprising my neighbors of the diversity of birds within their own neighborhood and fostering a greater appreciation of the avifauna around us. I hope to be convincing to my neighbors in demonstrating that birding is something that can be done almost anywhere.

Species & Date

House Finch 1/14/2008
American Goldfinch 1/14/2008
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1/14/2008
Carolina Chickadee 1/14/2008
Tufted Titmouse 1/14/2008
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1/14/2008
Northern Cardinal 1/14/2008
White-winged Dove 1/14/2008
Turkey Vulture 1/14/2008
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1/14/2008
Blue Jay 1/14/2008
American Crow 1/14/2008
Red-tailed Hawk 1/14/2008
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1/14/2008
Orange-crowned Warbler 1/28/2008
Dark-eyed Junco 1/28/2008
European Starling 2/6/2008
Northern Mockingbird 2/6/2008
Mourning Dove 2/6/2008
House Wren 2/10/2008
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2/10/2008
American Robin 2/22/2008
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2/26/2008
Ring-billed Gull 2/26/2008
Black Vulture 3/14/2008
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher 3/18/2008
Great-tailed Grackle 3/19/2008
Common Grackle 3/19/2008
Cedar Waxwing 3/20/2008
Black and White Warbler 3/20/2008
Killdeer 3/21/2008