Great Extra Equipment to Use when You are Bird Watching
Telescopes and tripods
There are low-power spotting scopes that are available, and are usually used when you are bird watching in open country. They are great at spotting shorebirds, hawks, and falcons from far distance and will definitely get some great close up action of the birds. Most bird watchers use a model that provides a magnification of 22x or more. It might be tempting to get larger magnification, but remember that any slight movement or shaking of the hand will result in more exaggerated vibrations. Therefore, always have your telescopes firmly mounted on a tripod when outside, and or a window clamp.
You can also have digiscope equipment which is a scope with a digital camera that will have a magnification up to 100x. You will find that certain models are better suited to digiscoping than other, so check out the latest information on the Internet.
Many of the telescopes have a fixed focal length, but try to choose one with a zoom lens which will provide more flexibility. Now, it will be necessary to choose a telescope that has the right balance of light intake with bulk, which will be in the number you choose on the diameter of the objective lens. There are also other lenses available, like fluorite lenses, designated fluorite or ED, which will greatly increase the image brightness, but unfortunately the cost as well.
You can either get your spotting scope fitted with angled or straight eyepieces. Angled once will take a little time to get use to, since you will not be looking at the bird form a straight angel, butwill provide more comfort to you when it is mounted on a tripod, especially when you have it low to the ground. A straight eyepiece will be easier to aim at a bird far in the distance, so you might want to try out some different ones before you decide.
An ideal tripod will be a lightweight, strong, portable one with a “fluid head”, which allows smooth movement with one control. Most telescopes have changeable eyepieces, such as wide-angled ones of 20x to 30x which are for general use. Then you have the 40x eyepiece which is good for long-distance viewing, and the zoom eyepiece which will provide more versatility.
Once you take your new telescope out on the field, it might take some getting use to, and a little practice. The first challenge you will encounter will be the lining up with a bird, due to its inherent narrow angle of view. The best and easiest way is to look along the casing of the telescope, and then roughly align it with the bird, and now you are ready to bring your eye to the eyepiece.
It is harder then you think to maintain a direct line, especially if you are using a straight telescope mounted to a tripod, so therefore always keep your eye directly in line with the eyepiece. Also make sure it is not off-centered, because this could create an image that is vignetted or in soft focus. Another tip is to try to look through your telescope with both eyes open, which could help you from to much unnecessary eye straining, but also give you a view of any other unexpected birds entering your peripheral field of vision.
