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