| Can you name the number one spectator sport in | | | | stabilization will keep your view from shaking-very |
| North America? It's not baseball, figure skating or | | | | important when watching from a long distance. Other |
| racing. It's bird watching. That's right, more people are | | | | cool features include anti-fogging, low-light viewing |
| watching birds than football and hockey combined. | | | | and wide-view characteristics. Additionally, binoculars |
| With so many people hoping to see a bird they've | | | | with built-in digital cameras enable you to identify |
| never seen before, it's not surprising to see a | | | | birds once you get home. These benefits will |
| clamoring for the latest tips and tools to get the job | | | | definitely enhance your bird watching. A great pair of |
| done. Here are my top five tips for getting the most | | | | binoculars will turn a mediocre experience into a great |
| out of your birding experience. | | | | one. You can count on it! |
| #1. Get to Where the Birds Are! This sounds obvious, | | | | #4. Practice Before You Go. A key to viewing |
| but many birders spend the majority of their bird | | | | wildlife, and especially birds, is to have the ability to |
| watching time and energy on poor locations. Some | | | | very quickly put your binoculars on target. Many |
| folk have the advantage of looking out of their | | | | people have difficulty finding a full moon in a pair of |
| windows into the back yard to observe nature's best. | | | | binoculars-but alas-learning to focus on a bird in a |
| The rest of us need to get moving. I would highly | | | | bush or track a bird in flight is easy for someone |
| recommend visiting a National Wildlife Refuge. There | | | | who has practiced prior to their outing. Try this |
| are over 500 of them across the United States. To | | | | before you go; lower your binoculars to your side |
| find one near you, visit | | | | and very quickly raise them to find and follow a jet |
| #2. Know What Species to Expect. There are | | | | airliner across the sky. After only a few attempts, |
| approximately 900 species of birds in the United | | | | you'll get good at quickly acquiring your target. Quite |
| States and recognizing each of them is nearly | | | | often, birds are visible for only a few seconds, |
| impossible. So when you visit an area, do a little | | | | practice to become proficient. |
| research first. You may find that perhaps only a few | | | | #5. Take Someone with You. Life is always better |
| species actually inhabit that particular area. With a | | | | when shared. Not only do you get to spend time out |
| little preparation, you will be able to more readily | | | | of doors with someone you like, but they might alert |
| identify bird species from each other. Keep a list of | | | | you to the "Number One Sight of the Day." Share |
| successfully viewed species - we'll call this tip number | | | | your birding experiences with your friends and family. |
| two and a half. | | | | Pass the birding excitement to a child. |
| #3. Get a Great Pair of Binoculars. Spending time and | | | | The best part about wildlife viewing is that you the |
| money to get to the right place can be totally | | | | viewer, control almost every aspect of the |
| wasted when your binoculars are inadequate. If you | | | | experience. The more you are prepared, the more |
| have an inexpensive pair of binoculars you are not | | | | rewarding your time in our backcountry will be. |
| getting the most out of your viewing. Today's | | | | Use this information and you'll Get It Right The First |
| technologies come at a price and they provide crucial | | | | Time. Get Outdoors! |
| benefits in wildlife viewing. For instance, image | | | | |