How to be a Bird Watcher – the Gear

From Binoculars to Life Lists - the Basics of Serious Birding

Nov 20, 2008

Equipment for the serious bird watcher includes binoculars, a bird guide, a notebook, a bird call, check lists, and a life list.

Birders come in all descriptions. Some are happy to observe birds at feeders; others go out looking for birds; some travel to go bird watching. For serious birders, there’s a short list of basic equipment to enhance the sport:

Choosing Binoculars

Binoculars magnify the view of a distant bird. A typical binocular might be described as 8 x 42: the eight is the magnification, and the 42 is the size of the objective—the lens farthest from the eye—in millimeters. These numbers also determine the brightness of the image: divide the larger number by the smaller one—the larger the result, the brighter the image.

Good quality binoculars provide a bright sharp image with minimal distortion. For birders, 8 x 32 to 8 x 42 is optimum, the smaller size being lighter and easier to carry. When packing light is essential, consider compact binoculars or even a monocular, though the optics will not be as good. Always test a binocular before buying and remember the cheaper products are not as good.

Choosing a Field Guide

For some regions there are a variety of good field guides to choose from; in others there may be only one choice. Find out what birders in the area recommend, look at the choices to see which are easy to use, and consider whether light weight and small size are important. Basic field guides include pictures and range maps for the species covered, and descriptions of field marks (key physical features) and vocalizations.

Take a Notebook

Many birders find that making notes is invaluable, especially when they need to recall details later, or continue with an identification after they get home. Not just for physical description, a notebook will remind you of the date and time, weather conditions, habitat, and other facts.

Attract Birds With a Bird Call

A bird call is a small wooden and metal device that can be manipulated to produce bird-like sounds. When used in the wild, these noises attract curious birds and draw them into the open. Owning a bird call is not necessary for rewarding bird watching, but this can be a useful tool if not overused. (Never use a bird call to the extent that it harasses wild birds.)

Check Lists and Life Lists

Wherever you’re birding, it’s useful to have a checklist of birds that occur in the area. This will help you rule out certain species when making an identification and keep track of the birds you see. Find checklists in field guides, on websites, and in local birding shops.

A life list is a different sort of checklist. It is a list of all the bird species that a birder has seen and confidently identified in his or her life. With over nine thousand species of birds on Earth, it’s unlikely any birder will have the chance to identify them all!

With binoculars, a field guide, and a notebook, you’ll get a lot out of birding. Add a bird call, a check list, and a life list, and it only gets better. Be sure to dress for the weather and terrain, and enjoy the birds.

Sources:

Getting Started in Bird Watching. Cronin, Edward W. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986.

Peterson First Guides: Birds. Peterson, Roger Tory. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986.

The copyright of the article How to be a Bird Watcher – the Gear in Bird Watching is owned by Rosemary Drisdelle. Permission to republish How to be a Bird Watcher – the Gear in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.