Enjoy Birding More With This Gear
Birds are some of the wild’s smartest and most beautiful animals. Some people say they wish that they could see these magnificent creatures up close and see how they do what they do. Well lucky for them, there is a common hobby known as bird watching, or birding, that lots of people take part in every day. Birders can get up close and personal with different species of birds and can even name a bird by catching a glimpse of a species, or by simply listening to a bit of a bird’s song. If this sounds appealing to you, there are a couple items that you will need to bring along to make your day of bird watching more enjoyable.
The most crucial pieces of gear one a birder’s list are his/her optics. A excellent quality pair of binoculars, such as Nikon binoculars, can aid you in seeing birds from far away. For most birders, a good binocular is enough to view the birds, but some people want to get closer still. For your extreme magnification needs, try using a high magnification spotting scope. If that can’t get you in on the action, I don’t know what can!
So now that you have your binoculars and you’re ready to go birding, you have to choose where to go bird watching in the first place. A good field guide can let you know exactly which birds to spot in certain spots at a certain point in the season. One well known field guide is Birds of the Philippines by Tim Fisher and Nigel Hicks. Take some time to get to know your field guide, so that when you spot a bird in a certain area, you will be able to achieve an accurate guess as to which species the bird could be.
Trying to figure out when and where to spot birds is the toughest part of bird watching, but appropriate attire can be just as cricial. No matter what, you should dress appropriately for the weather to provide maximum comfort for your day outside. Dark clothes are most used, typically in colors that will match your surroundings, such as green and brown. If the sun is shining, a hat can also be pretty useful to keep harmful UV rays off of your face, neck and head.
The last couple items you should bring are a notebook to jot down any observations or studies, and supplies to make the day more fun. Make sure to bring some water, a few snacks, a can of bug spray, and even a portable seat if you are going to be in the same spot for a while. Remember, bird watching is all about Mother Earth, so do your best to respect Mother Earth and clean up after yourself. Be kind, be courteous, and remember to have fun!
Mail this post
Tags: Bird watching, Birding, birding gear