Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER
2
Birding for Fun and Science: The Sport of Bird-Watching
Joseph Hickey once defined bird-watching as a disease “which can be cured only by
rising at dawn and sitting in a bog.” That may not be quite true, but why
do
people
watch birds? And once our interest is sparked, what equipment do we need, and how
do we go about finding and identifying birds?
Every year I field hundreds of questions about how to watch birds. What are the
best binoculars? How do I pick a field guide? Is it best to go birding alone or with a
group? I love helping people start bird-watching. After all, no one should go through
life listlessly.
Using Binoculars Like a Pro
Q I'm interested in doing more than just looking at my backyard birds, but isn't bird-
ing an expensive hobby, with state-of-the-art equipment and a lot of travel?
A
Birding doesn't have to be expensive, though it certainly can be for those who purchase
the best optics, the most current electronic gadgets, and the airplane tickets to embark on
world travel. But it can be equally satisfying, and sometimes even more so, to watch birds
while spending very little money. You can have years of enjoyment with excellent binocu-
lars costing less than $300 that will allow you to see and identify as many birds as those
top-of-the-line ones. Investing $30 in a field guide can provide a lifelong reference for
learning about hundreds ofbirds in yourownarea and anywhere else youmay goin North
America. And birding locally can provide endless enjoyment and excitement as you hone
your skills and continually learn more about the diversity and behavior of birds.
Q My husband bought me a really great pair of binoculars, but whenever I try to look
through them, everything sort of blacks out and I can't see a thing!
A
Considering how expensive binoculars can be, it's odd that most companies don't in-
clude operating instructions in the package. Using binoculars is like riding a bike — won-
derfully easy, once you have the hang of it.
Before you try to see birds through your binoculars, you need to make a few adjust-
ments. Virtually all binoculars have several helpful features that allow them to be tailored
todifferentusers.Theeyecupsholdtheocularlenses(thelensesyoulookthrough)exactly
the right distance from your eyes (this distance is called
eye relief
), to optimize magnific-
ation and cut out peripheral light, making the image clearer and brighter. Extend the eye-
