This is the last Saturday before the “Winter Yard List Competition”, if you missed the column a few weeks ago, I issued a challenge to count all the birds that you can see or hear from your yard from December 1 to February 28. The yard with the biggest list will win a fully equipped feeder station. A reminder that I have check lists available at the Moncton Market, a photo album is on our web site at thebirdgarden.ca and I will post the rules, under “Articles” then Winter List, for those who missed out.
To make things more interesting we are offering prizes for firsts, besides the grand prize for the biggest list, the first to report a species and the first identifiable photo of each species, so get out first thing December 1. The prizes will start small and get better as the list gets larger, the last 10 species will have a higher degree of difficulty than the first 10. Bear with me, I’m kind of making this up as I go along.
This is on your honor so new photos only please, don’t scour your old hard drives for photos.
Q. We want to take part in the yard count, our binoculars are ancient and we see double vision through them. I think a good pair of binoculars would be better and my husband wants a spotting scope, the more power the better. Who’s right?
A. Yikes, that’s a tough one, not because I don’t have an opinion, it’s that I don’t like getting in the middle of marital disagreements, but...here’s to hoping your husband isn’t really big with a bad temper.
I think you’re right of course. Most birders would use binoculars 90 percent of the time (or more) and the scope the rest. It’s hard to locate things with a scope because of the relatively narrow field of view, higher power makes it even worse, a scope is used to get a closer look at something after you locate it with binoculars. If you only have a scope there is added eyestrain from always using only one eye; I especially notice this when I do go places where I use a scope more, like hawk watch sites or scanning for shore birds.
Then there is the added inconvenience of carrying the tripod around, even if you are only using it in your yard you will likely want to look out different windows. You will have to fold up the tripod, and set it up in the new location, by then the bird has likely move on. I have several pair of binoculars in the house, trade ins and upgrades are strategically located on widow sills (with no straps, so the kid and the cats don’t pull them over), they aren’t in the case and the objective covers are long gone, all this slows you down, I do however love the “rain guard” cover that fits across both eyepieces, this keeps the dust of the eyepieces and they stand on the objective end to keep dust out. They take up very little room compared to a tripod mounted scope.
Also you have to think of cost, to get a scope that is any good at all, you are going to spend $300, then you need a decent tripod, that will cost another $250. I recommend a tripod head that is designed for video cameras rather than still photography, video heads are made for smooth easy panning. If you cut corners on the tripod it will shake in the wind, or worse, blow over and you break your scope. For much less than half the cost of a low end scope and tripod you could get an exceptional pair of binoculars, (or 2 pair for the same amount, then you don’t have to share). Over the years there have been several occasions where I had a scope, tripod, cases and all the accessories sold and to make conversation I ask what kind of binoculars they have, when they say they don’t have binoculars, I take a deep breath and weigh out my options……a bucket of money today or a happy birder and life long customer. I end up talking them out of the expensive scope and into a good binocular for much less money. It’s easy, we just take both out for a short walk around the yard, after setting up the tripod then carrying it on your shoulder you very soon see why I recommend binoculars first then a scope if you still need one. The couples who did this exercise ended up buying a second pair of binoculars down the road, before the scope.
If you have a view over a great distance you might be able to add a few species to your yard list with a scope. I can see the river from one bedroom and the Moncton Airport from another and have added a few species to our yardlist, but nothing compared to what I see with my binoculars, because they are always right there and ready.
I would try each out before buying anything, look at objects at the same distance as you will be using them in your yard. Sure you can see the Eagle that is soaring a mile away but if you can only see 100 feet in your yard you don’t need this.
By the way, you are seeing double vision with you binoculars because they are out of alignment. Binoculars are basically two tubes that have to be exactly parallel or you see double. This most often results from dropping or bumping. Depending on the quality of the binoculars they may be worth repairing, you can usually get a pair of binoculars “cleaned and columnated” for around $35, (or free if they have a “no fault” warranty”). I would be happy to take a look and advise you on your repair options. Every now and then I see a real gem of a binocular that can be restored to like new condition for under $50.
written by Dwayne Biggar at The Bird Garden
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