Finding the Right Bird Watching Binoculars
Why use Binoculars?
Starting Out
If you are just starting out, and unsure about investing in a pair of binoculars, I suggest you borrow a pair for a few days. Take them outside and practice with them. Start with focusing on stationary objects. Once you've mastered that, focus in on the birds.After using your neighbor's binoculars for a day or two, one of three things will happen. Your interest in birds will quadruple. Not only will you want a pair of binoculars, you want a scope and camera as well. Or, you will decide that identifying a bird is not as much fun as you thought it would be. After returning your neighbors binoculars, you take up chess or join a midnight bowling league. There is one other possibility. After returning the binoculars, you never buy a pair of your own, but keep feeding the birds and enjoying their antics at a distance. As you are reading this article, I am assuming you are part of the first group.
When buying a pair of binoculars, there are two basic rules to follow.
1. Get the best you can afford.
When it comes to binoculars the adage, you get what you pay for, is true. The better the quality, the more they will cost.
2. Make sure the binoculars are comfortable to use.
The binoculars should fit comfortably in your hands and be easy to focus. Make sure they can hold the focus. Poorly aligned or out-of-focus binoculars can cause eye strain.
Terms You Need to Know
Close Focus: We use binoculars to focus on objects at a distance, but sometimes we need to focus on object close by. Many high-powered binoculars cannot focus on object closer than 20 feet. For birders wishing for a closer look at nearby birds, this can be a disadvantage. The ideal close focus is between 8 and 12 feet. To determine the close focus of a pair of binoculars, try focusing on your feet or a nearby object. The distance to the closest object upon which you can focus is the close focus value of your binoculars.
Eye relief: The eye relief is the distance from your eyes to the outer surface of the eyepiece. Your eyelashes should not brush against the lenses, but if the distance is too great, you lose more of the field of view. Imagine looking though a hole in a fence. The closer you get to the hole, the more area you can see beyond the fence.
Eyepieces: The lenses nearest your eyes.
Field of view: The amount of area that can be seen when looking through a pair of binoculars. A larger field of view makes spotting the bird through your binoculars easier. Generally speaking, the higher the power on your binoculars, the smaller your field of view.
Lens coating: Lenses are treated to increase clarity, brightness, and color quality. The better treatments add to the cost of the binoculars, but it's worth it.
Objective lens: The lens closest to the object you are looking at. The diameter of the objective lens is measured in millimeters and is the second of the two numbers used to describe optics. If a pair of binoculars has a magnification of 10x35, the objective lens has a diameter of 35 millimeters. The larger the objective lens, the more light entering your binoculars. More light means a clearer, brighter image.
Power: The amount of magnification provided by the binoculars. It is usually listed as 7x, 8x, or 10x.
Model designation: 7x35 and 10x40, pronounced 7 by 35 or 10 by 40, are common model designations. The first number is the power or magnification. A pair of binoculars with a model designation of 10x40 will magnify a distant bird 10 times. The second number is the diameter of the objective lens.
Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars
My Choice
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Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars
The waterproof, fog-free Nikon binoculars are perfect for outdoor use. Bright, beautifully defined images are delivered by superior quality, multilayer coated lense.O-ring seals and nitrogen gas provide added resistance to the effects of changes in climate, while the durable design and rubber armoring ensure reliable performance and a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use. Worry-free viewing of the great outdoors.
Additional Information
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Identifying Birds
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Spotting a bird is one thing, identifying it is another story. With over 10,000 species of birds in the world, no one is an expert right from the start. It takes time and practice. Follow the steps listed below and you will be on your way!
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Selecting a Birdwatching Field Guide
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Watching the birds in your backyard is both fun and relaxing. You may have already put up a birdfeeder and even recognize some of the regular visitors. You've reached the point where "watching the birds" is not enough. You want to know...
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Bird Watching Excursions
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Watching the birds in your own backyard can be both rewarding and satisfying, but as your expertise grows, you may want to join other birders on a bird watching excursion. There are several things to keep in mind as you troop along the birding trail....
Remember...
Remember, there is no one pair of Binoculars that is the best for every situation. What will you be using them for? Is your bird watching limited to your backyard, or are you planning a birding trip half way around the world? Are you a serious birder or a casual observer? How much are you willing to spend?Weigh all the pro's and con's, make a decision and go from there. With or without a pair of binoculars, the birds are fun to watch.
Peterson's Field Guide to Birds
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)![]()
Identify the birds you see!
Attracting Birds to Your Yard
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Attracting Birds to Your Yard
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Next to gardening, bird watching is one of the fastest growing hobbies around. It doesn't require a trip around the world or thousands of dollars worth of specialized equipment. All you need to do is step out your back door and wait. It's c...
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Selecting a Birdbath
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Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the world. It provides a relaxing and educational diversion from the stresses of life and work. While some people enjoy birding excursions and trekking through the wilds in search of a...
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Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary
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Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the world. It provides a relaxing and educational diversion from the stresses of life and work. It can be a meditative, solitary experience or a social activity. There are bird watchin...
Did you learn something new today?
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- susannaduffy susannaduffy Jun 20, 2009 @ 6:40 pm
- Another absolutely wonderful lens from you - I have never read anything of yours which wasn't first class. More than that, once again I have thoroughly enjoyed reading
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Apr 26, 2009 @ 7:13 am
- Ah -- perfect lens to complement your bird watching lenses. Do you know that our binoculars actually sit on a table in our living room? Hubby was just this morning trying to identify a bird on our bird feeder -- he came up with Carolina Chickadee!
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- AidanJames AidanJames Feb 14, 2009 @ 11:51 am
- Nice one! - I have a lens on birding binoculars too if you're interested: http://www.squidoo.com/Best_Birding_Binoculars
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- tdove tdove Jan 19, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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- naturegirl7 naturegirl7 Jan 10, 2009 @ 2:07 pm
- Great tips. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens link to the appropriate plexo and vote for it.
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About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,949 lenses, favorited 445, and has created 197 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Some of My Favorite Backyard Birds

The Bold and BeautifulThe American Goldfinch
The Blue Jay
The Northern Cardinal
Cheerful Singers
The European Starling
The Northern Mockingbird

The American Robin

The Shy Ones
The Eastern Bluebird
The Carolina Wren
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by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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