Birding Binoculars – 8 Helpful Tips Before You Buy
Bird watching can be one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences, but it can also be the most frustrating. The first challenge is to simply find the bird. Then, you must be able to follow its rapid movements through the trees or across a field.
Binoculars that work well for boaters, hikers or hunters won’t necessarily be the best for birding. Look for a pair with a bright image to help distinguish subtle features, particularly in dim light. Also, being able to focus them quickly is a must.
Here are a few tips that will help you select the right pair of binoculars for a successful bird watching adventure.
Tip 1: Image quality and field of view
A good pair of birding binoculars must have a good field of view because birds move fast. Those that have a larger ratio between the magnification (first number) and the objective lens size will always give a sharper, brighter image than ones with a smaller ratio. (For instance, 8 x 42 provides a brighter image than an 8 x 32.) The higher the second number, the brighter the image. A higher second number will also exhibit greater clarity and better dim light performance.
Tip 2: Magnification
Most binoculars will have 7, 8 or 10 power magnification. A higher number isn’t always better. Most birders feel that 7 or 8 power is a good choice. Opinions against the 10 power binoculars are that the higher the magnification, the smaller the field of view and any shaking of the hands will be magnified.
Tip 3: Weight
Typical standard-sized birding binoculars will range from 20 to 35 ounces. Reasonably light weight is good, but don’t let the weight be the determining factor. A heavier model is often helpful for steadier viewing. Binoculars weigh just a fraction of what your arms weigh. It’s the weight of your arms rather than the weight of the binoculars that tires you out. A wide neck strap or harness will make carrying them easier.
Tip 4: Focusing
The two basic types of focus systems are center and individual. For birding binoculars, center focusing is the most common and convenient and typically the most preferred, as both eyepieces can be focused at the same time. A separate diopter adjustment on one eyepiece (usually the right one) helps to compensate for differences in the strength of each eye. An acceptable minimum focus distance is 18 to 20 feet, but many birders prefer models with a closer focus of 8 to 13 feet.
Tip 5: Eye Relief
The distance behind the binocular eyepiece at which the entire field of view is clearly visible is known as eye relief. This is a very important specification for those who wear eyeglasses or sunglasses. This distance can vary from as little as 5mm to as much as 23mm. Most current models feature fold-down rubber eyecups so eyeglass wearers can bring the binoculars in closer to the eyes to significantly improve viewing. Some models have what’s known as long eye relief for those without the need for glasses, but they do not have a particularly wide field of view. Decide which feature is most important before making a purchase.
Tip 6: Price
You get what you pay for. For many this may be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, so spend as much as you can afford. You will never regret purchasing high quality binoculars. Take your time to make the right decision by asking experienced birders to express their pros and cons. Visit a store that sells a variety of brands to ask questions and compare the statistics in the first four tips. After making a decision, check the prices with reputable companies on the Internet and read customer reviews. Quite often the Internet prices will be lower.
Tip 7: Zoom Binoculars
In general, zoom binoculars have a host of problems that can’t be easily overcome. Fixed-power binoculars, of similar price, will always out-perform the zoom variety. At low power the view is almost half that of the fixed-power. At high power the image quality is not as good and is likely poorly merged. Similar fixed-power binoculars offer as much magnification as you can steadily hold and the image quality will be far superior.
Tip 8: Involve the Kids!
Kids who show an interest in birding at an early age should be encouraged to join in the fun. Gift them with terrific kid-size binoculars that are designed with smaller features for little hands. This is a wonderful way for children to not only enjoy nature but to make it a special bonding time with parents and siblings.
The chosen binoculars are now in your hands. Get comfortable with them. Practice before that first big birding adventure. Follow birds leaving your feeder to develop a feel for the speed of flight and the quickly changing focus. It’s awe inspiring. Tune in and enjoy!
Janet Winter loves her wild birds and delights in providing helpful resources and unique products for feathered friends at http://www.WildBirdGoodies.com. She maintains a backyard bird habit with the focus on plants, feeders, houses and water features that attract wild birds.
Blue Tits Use Aromatic Plants in Their Nests
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Scientists have discovered that some birds, such as Blue Tits and other European birds line their nests with aromatic plants. These plants can kill bacteria so that a sterile environment is created for the chicks. Although some other species, such as Starlings, bring back aromatic plants to the nest they only do this until the eggs are laid, suggesting it is simply a courtship method.
photo credit: fs-phil
Researchers from the National Centre of Scientific Research in France and the University of Toulouse tested the effect of these plants on the bacteria present in nests and found that chicks from nests lined with these plants grew faster that others and were healthier. Some plants that were used in the nests included lavender, apple mint, the curry plant and and Achillea ligustica and had a significant effect on the populations of bacteria in the nests. The research is published in the journal Oecologia and you can read more at the BBC Blue tits embrace ‘aromatherapy’
Wild Bird Recipes for Your Bird Feeder
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Some recipes to place in your bird feeder.
Rendered Suet
Rendered suet is used in many bird feeding recipes. Meat is completely removed during the rendering process and it will not melt so easily or turn rancid so quickly after rendering.
Image by Martin_Heigan
Method
Place the suet in a saucepan over a low heat. Make sure not to overheat as it can ignite. Preferably an electric skillet should be used but if you are using a flame use a larger pan to spread the heat. Melt the suet then pass through a layer of fine cheesecloth into a suitable, heat proof tub. Discard any unmelted pieces of suet. Cool and allow to harden then repeat the process three times more.
Berry Treat
- 2 cups warm rendered suet
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup oatmeal
- 3/4 cup dried berries
- 1/4 cup corn muffin mix
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Mix the warm rendered suet wit the peanut butter until the peanut butter is melted. Mix in the dried berries and sunflower seeds the add the oatmeal and muffin mix. Mix thoroughly and place in molds or mold into small cakes by hand. Allow to cool.
Wild Bird Fruit Treats
- Fresh fruit – pears, apples, oranges, berries, peaches etc
Chop up the fruit into small pieces then make a hole in the center of each piece. Take a piece of twine and make a knot in one end then thread the fruit pieces onto the twine. Hang on branches or poles.
Fruit and Nut Mixture
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup dried apples
- 1 cup melon seeds
- 1 cup nuts chopped
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
Mix together and add to your bird feeder. Store in an airtight container.
Wild Bird Cakes
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup warm rendered suet
- 3 cup cornmeal
Mix the warm rendered suet with the peanut butter until it melts. Add the cornmeal and mix well. Shape into small cakes with the hands and leave to cool.
Bald Eagle Returned to the Wild
After some careful nursing at the Virginia Wildlife Foundation a one year old Bald eagle was returned to the wild. In early December it was brought to the center after eating food contaminated with pesticides. Food is scarce in the winter and it is thought that the Bald Eagle was hungry enough to eat something that he would not normally be eating.
At the center his system was flushed out to remove the food and he was given fluids and antibiotics. The eagle was treated for two weeks at a cost of $3000 but this could have been avoided by people The Bald Eagle is no longer on the endangered species list but according to Ann Shirley of Norfolk Eagle Support Team International “People may assume that they are safe now and that there is no need to be concerned about the eagles, but the truth of the matter is we need to keep our focus on them.” She went on to say that people need to be careful about the pesticides and other chemicals as they can harm, not only birds, but other wildlife too and are the Bald Eagles greatest threat.
The Bald Eagle was fully recovered when he was released and now has every chance of surviving.
Image by dobak
Treat the Birds with Your Recycled Christmas Tree
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Ideas for your Christmas tree now that Christmas is gone!
- Put the tree in its stand out on the patio, deck or porch and decorate with treats for the wild birds. You could hang suet cakes, pieces of fruit or a bird feeder filled with nuts. At this time of year there is often a shortage of food for the wild birds so they will greatly benefit from the treats.
- If you have a wild part of your garden lay the tree (after removing all the decorations of course!) on the ground. Small animals will use it as cover in the harsh weather or as a shelter from predators.
- Make compost from the tree. Shred it completely then add it to the compost pile. Pine trees may change the pH of the compost to be more acidic so it will be particularly helpful if you have soil that is a little high in pH.
- Make a mulch of the tree. A mulch is different from a compost which is encouraged to break down in the compost bin by the addition of water and regularly turned. Chop up the tree and keep in a container to use as a mulch on the garden.
- You could also chop of some of the branches and add to flower arrangements.
Image by t0msk
Seeds Suitable for your Garden Birdfeeder
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Different birds are attracted to different types of food and you can attract the type of bird you would like in your garden by putting out suitable food. For seed eating birds there are a variety of seeds that you can buy. Below is a selection of some different types of seeds and the birds that will be attracted to them.
Birds will toss out seeds that they don’t like so to minimise waste place different seeds in separate garden bird feeders.
Striped and Black Oil Sunflower Seed – cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, crossbills, evening grosbeaks, goldfinches, purple finches, mourning doves, white crowned sparrows, siskins, titmice.
Hulled Sunflower Seed – jays, goldfinches, cardinals, evening grosbeaks, nuthatches, red-bellied woodpeckers, chickadees,pine grosbeaks, grackle and titmice.
White Proso Millet – doves, quail, towhees, sparrows,red-winged blackbirds and cowbirds.
Cracked Corn – quail, pheasants, crows, jays, doves, towhees and juncos. Cracked corn rots easily as it takes up water so replace often.
Nyger or thistle seeds – goldfinch. Use in a speciality bird feeder.
Seed Mixtures – Various. A good mix containing black oil sunflower, millet and cracked corn will attract a wide variety of birds.
Oats, milo,wheat – Try to avoid seed mixers that contain these ingredients as few birds will eat them. They are often put into inexpensive mixes as fillers.
Storage
Always store seed mixtures in metal canisters to prevent then getting damp and forming molds. Keep in a cool dry place.
Image by stevevoght
Tips on Feeding Wild Birds
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Feeding wild birds is most beneficial during the winter when natural food may be in short supply but food shortages can occur in any season. Put out food for the birds all year round to help when shortages do occur. Temporary food shortages during the breeding season will affect the young so providing suitable food during this time will be especially beneficial for the wild birds.
Spring and Summer Feeding
Birds require a source of high protein foods during the summer and especially when thet are moulting. Some good examples of food to place in your garden bird feeder or bird table are black sunflower seeds, raisins and currents, grated cheese, soaked sultanas, mealworms and special summer seed mixes or mixes for insect eating birds.
You could also put out fruit for the fruit loving birds. Bananas and grapes and apples and pears cut in two can be sued. Do not use bread, fat or peanuts during the summer as they can be harmful to baby birds. Also avoid the use of home made fat balls as they will quickly become rancid in the warm weather. Purchased fat bars are much better but need to be checked to make sure they are not rancid and will only last for about three weeks before they must be discarded.
If the weather is unseasonably cold or very wet during the breeding period there may be a shortage of insects. A dry spell can make it difficulty for wild birds to feed on earthworms when the soil is hard. If there are young birds in the nest the parents will e tempted by food on birdtables so it is esential that the food you supply is suitable for the parents to take back to their young. This is why you should never put out food such as loose peanuts, hard, dry food or large pieces of bread or fats during the summer. These foods may be taken back to feed the chicks and can prove lethal.
Fall and winter Feeding
During the fall and winter put food out for the birds regularly, twice a day during severe weather if possible. During these months birds need high energy foods so put out foods high in fat to supply energy during the cold weather. Only put out good quality food and make sure any uneaten food is removed.
Image by Wade Franklin
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers so in order to attract them to your feeder you need to make nectar that is similar to their natural food.
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Follow the recipe below for an easy Hummingbird nectar.
Boil water then measure out 2 cups of water and add 1/2 cup of sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar then cool and store in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week. There is no need to add any coloring.
Cleaning the Hummingbird Feeder
At least once a week clean your hummingbird feeder. Rinse out with a solution containing 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. If the feeder does not come clean add some uncooked rice and shake to dislodge any dirt particles. Fill with the nectar and hang up in a shady place.
Other Ways to Attract Hummingbirds
You could also plant flowers to attract the hummingbirds. Clematis, impatiens, hibiscus, hollyhocks and fuchsias are all favorites.
Some Information about Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are found in north and South America and the Caribbean. They are well known for their ability to hover in place by rapidly beating their wings. They can also fly backwards, the only species to be able to go this. These tiny birds have long tongues to enable them to reach into the flowers and gather the nectar. Hummingbirds are the smallest species of birds with the Bee Hummingbird, at only two inches being the smallest bird in the world. The largest Hummingbird is the Giant Hummingbird at eight inches long.
How to Attract Birds to your Bird Feeder
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
In order to attract the wild bird species you would like to your bird feeder you will need to provide a suitable feeder and food to attract them. Different birds will need different types of feeder. Larger bird will need a sturdy feeder with large perches, hummingbirds will need a nectar feeder, finches will be attracted to thistle seeds in a thistle feeder. There are even specially designed feeders for different species e.g. woodpecker feeders, goldfinch feeders and jay feeders.
Tin Jay Feeder
Click here for more information on the Tin Jay Feeder
Feeders suitable for the type of feed you are offering are listed below:
- Tube feeder – thistle or other small seeds
- Platform feeder – fruit or special food types
- Hummingbird feeder – nectar
- Mesh cage feeder (squirrel proof) – suet, peanuts, larger seeds
- Standard feeder – sunflower seeds, safflower seeds
Food suitable for different species is listed below.
- Bluebird Cornmeal with peanut butter added, bluebird seed available to purchase.
- Bunting Small seeds & grains.
- Blackbirds Small seeds & grains, breadcrumbs
- Chickadee Unsalted nuts, suet, safflower seeds, sunflower seeds
- Finches Thistle (Niger) seeds, black sunflower Seeds.
- Jay Peanuts, corn ,suet, sunflower
- Mourning Dove sunflower and safflower seeds, wheat, milo and cracked corn seeds
- Mockingbird Bread, raisins, suet
- Robin Apples, raisins and breadcrumbs
- Northern Shrike Suet.
- Siskin Thistle seeds, sunflower seeds.
- Thrasher Bread, raisins, suet
- Towhee Bird seed mixtures for small birds
- Woodpecker sunflower and safflower seeds, wheat, milo and cracked corn seeds
- Warblers Peanut butter, suet (although usually insect eaters)
- Townsend’s Warblers Peanut butter, suet, cheese
- Yellow Throated Warbler Breadcrumbs.
Choose your bird feeder and type of food carefully and you will attract the wild birds that you would like in your garden.
Keeping Bees and Ants out of Hummingbird Feeders
Articles from Best Garden Bird Feeders
Hummingbird feeders contain sugar water which will not only attract the lovely hummingbirds but also some visitors you don’t want! Ants bees and wasps will invade your feeder if you don’t take some precautions!
picture by Timothy K Hamilton
Keeping Ants out of Hummingbird Feeders
First of all when you are shopping for your hummingbird feeder select a dripless feeder. If you can also get one with a built in ant moat this will be even better. The ant moat can be filled with water. Don’t use any other liquid in the moat like oil as many small birds will drink from the moat. If the feeder does not have a moat make one. Take a spray can top and run the hanging wire through it.Seal the hole with silicone sealer or glue. Another good method is to paint the moat at the bottom with a sticky substance called Tanglefoot and install the moat with th open side downwards. Tanglefoot is very effective at trapping ants and is not toxic to the birds in any way. It will last a long time as it is unaffected by rain or dust.
Keeping Bees and Wasps out of Hummingbird Feeders
Bees and wasps have been found to be attracted to anything that is yellow so choose a feeder of a different color.or remove any yellow parts on your feeder. Feeders can be purchased with bee guards. HummZinger feeders are insect proof as the level of the feeding solution is too low for the insects to reach but accessible by the hummingbirds with their long tongues.
Aspects HummZinger Rose Fancy Hummingbird Feeder
Click here for more information on the Aspects Hummzinger Rose Fancy Hummingbird Feeder
The Opus glass hummingbird feeder has two bee resistant ports.
Opus Hummingbird Feeder Glass 10oz
10 oz. glass hummingbird feeder. durable, tempered clear glass nectar container. two bee resistant feeding ports. dimensions (h x w x l) : 6.37 x 4.19 x 4.25
Click here for more information on the Opus Hummingbird Feeder Glass 10oz
You could also reduce the sugar content of the feeding solution to 1 part sugar to 5 parts water t make it less attractive to the insects. Remove the feeder for a day or two if wasps or bees are congregating around it. Replace in a new position and the insects may not find it again. Another thing you could try is to mix up some more concentrated sugar water, place it in a saucer (preferably a yellow one to be more attractive) and place the saucer near to the feeder. Gradually move the saucer away from the feeder until the bees stop using it.