Birding for Beginners -- Getting Started
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- Aviella
- Renie_Burghardt
- harrierpcr
- harrierpcr
- Aviella
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» Renie_Burghardt - Welcome, P.C!
Great to have you here. Now you've got me interested in getting a scope. I'm always trekking around in the woods, and I always have my binoculars with me. But I don't own a birding scope. Great suggestions for the beginner, or for any birder. Thank you. Look forward to more.Renie
-- posted by Renie_Burghardt
» harrierpcr - Re: Welcome, P.C!
In response to message posted by Renie_Burghardt:Renie: Hi! Thanks for the welcome -- I'm glad to be on board. There's really nothing like being outdoors, is there, no matter what the weather! (Just got back in from X-ctry skiing. Lots of snow for where I live, in north central New Jersey. We take advantage of it whenever we can!).
Scopes are great to have. They can also be expensive. I bit the bullet about a year and a half ago and bought a Leica Televid 777, which ran (gulp) about $1200, but you can also get some pretty decent Nikons for about half of that. (Also, don't forget the tripod too, for lugging the thing around!).
It's always good to "test drive" a scope if you can, but also see if you can get a scope that's discounted. Some very good discount camera (I'm also into photography, sigh) web sites, like Camera World's (www.cameraworld.com) offer great prices on equipment. Sometimes you can also get discounted equipment through your local Audubon society (I got mine through New Jersey Audubon).
Oh, also, get one that's rugged enough it's not going to come apart should it drop (a Kowa model did this). The Leica's pretty rugged, not to mention waterproof. Leica binoculars are terrific too, like Swarovksis, but I use a pair of Zeiss 7 X 42s.
I tell you, I sometimes think binoculars are like animals and shoes. Can't just have one, let alone two!
-- posted by harrierpcr
» harrierpcr - Re: Welcome!
In response to message posted by Aviella:Aviella: Thanks for the message. Yes, it looks like we're birding on opposite ends of the country! How's birding been this season? It's been fair here ("here" being Morris Township in New Jersey, about 35 miles west of New York City) but I noticed this winter we don't have the gadwalls in that we had this time last year. Nor is that annoying sharp-shin pestering everyone at my feeders. Speaking of feeders, have you see that new Yankee Droll feeder that spins the squirrels around? It's pretty funny to watch!
Pat
-- posted by harrierpcr
» Aviella - Re: Re: Welcome!
In response to message posted by harrierpcr:Yep, we're at opposite ends of the country! The weather here in Oregon has been quite mild this winter, which has made getting out to bird more pleasant than it sometimes is in the winter. We even have a summer tanager being seen in Portland, which is an Oregon record! I haven't seen the new squirrel-proof feeder, but I've read about it, and I'm intrigued.
-- posted by Aviella
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