New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) and Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) suggest the following binoculars for young birders. They all list for $150 and under (NJAS/CMBO member’s price) and can be purchased from any of our centers or ordered on-line at FeatherEdge Optics.
- Leupold Yosemite* 6 x 30
Highest Recommendation - particularly for younger or beginning birders. (See also Take a Kid Birding© Package) - Vortex 8.5 x 32 Spitfire
- Nikon 7 x 35 Action
What do the numbers mean?
Binoculars have two numbers associated with them as in the above
examples. The 6 refers to the magnification. A “6x” magnification
will bring the object/bird 6 times closer to the viewer. Think of it
this way: if you are 100 ft. from a stop sign and you look through
the binoculars, the sign will look as if it is only forty feet away.
If you are using 8 power binoculars, the sign would look as if it
was twenty feet away.
 View with the naked eye |
 7x magnification |
 8x magnification |
 10x magnifcation |
The second number on a binocular refers to the size of the objective lens (the larger lenses of the binocular) measured in millimeters. Thus, 6 x 30 would indicate that the binocular has a magnification 6 times greater than the human eye and an objective lens 30 millimeters in diameter. The size of the objective lens is directly related to the amount of light that the binocular will absorb and how much light it will allow to reach your eyes. Think of it this way: the larger the lens, the brighter the image.
But choosing a binocular by the numbers is not as simple as it sounds. The immediate thought would be to pick up a pair of 10 x 56 binoculars. While these would bring an object in very close in terms of magnification and the 56 mm objective lens would allow the image to be bright, the binocular would be too heavy to hold for long periods of time. Magnification also relates to image brightness in that the higher the magnification the less light is able to reach your eye. A 6 x 30 binocular can be very bright, lightweight and easy to use — thus our recommendation of the Leupold Yosemite 6 x 30 binocular.
Now, how do I use them?
- Most binoculars come with an adjustable neck strap. Adjust the length for comfort so that the binoculars rest against your chest. If your optics did not come with a strap or you need an upgrade from what is in the box, Weight Reduction, Harness and Bandolier style neck straps are available at CMBO’s nature stores.
- Bring the small end of the binoculars up to your eyes and adjust the interpupillary distance—push together or pull the barrels apart—to fit the distance between your eyes. You should see a single image. If you see two separate circles, as they show in cartoons, then the interpupillary distance is set too wide.
- To customize your binoculars for your eyes, start by looking at a distant object like a stationary bird feeder or sign. Close your right eye and turn the center focus wheel until the image is sharp. Then close your left eye and open the right and move the diopter or adjustment ring (usually located on the right ocular but some models are now designed so that you pull up on the center focus wheel to reveal the adjustment ring) until the image in the right eye is sharp. (If your adjustment ring is located in the center focus you will need to push down to lock the diopter setting in place.) Once the adjustment ring is set, all focusing will be done with the center focus wheel.
- While looking at a bird feeder or stationary object with your eyes only, bring the binoculars up to your eyes. (It may take some practice to keep your eyes on the object while moving the binoculars). Then turn the center focus wheel until you see a clear image.
Some general rules regarding binoculars and binocular use:
- Avoid binoculars with too strong a magnification as they will often be too heavy for younger birders. Image quality does not increase with magnification because the optic magnifies everything, including shaky hands and heat distortion.
- Adjust the eyecups (they may fold back or twist up or down depending on the binocular type). Eyecups should be twisted up (or out) for individuals without glasses. In order to achieve a pleasing and full Field of View (FOV), individuals wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses will need to twist or roll down their eyecups.
- When using binoculars with a group for the first time it is best to set up a stationary object or bird feeder that the children can focus on.
A spotting scope is useful for distant birds, offshore birds, and to set on a stationary feeder for observation and viewing. If the group leader owns a spotting scope then participants can take turns viewing. A key factor is choosing a lightweight scope that participants can take turns carrying and setting up for viewing (a responsibility most kids enjoy).
Spotting scopes can be purchased at one of our centers or ordered on-line at FeatherEdge Optics. Prices range from about $450 to $2,000 for a high quality scope with a lifetime guarantee. For further information on scopes and recommendations for mentors please contact a Sales Manager at CMBO’s Northwood Center or Center for Research and Education.
Bird guides are essential tools for identifying birds and for learning more about their behavior, range and habitat preferences– whether in the field or later in the classroom.
- Kaufman Focus Guides, Birds of North America is the NJAS/CMBO recommended guide for beginning birders.
- Golden Guides - Eastern Birds (especially for very young birders).
- Peterson Field Guides, Birds of Eastern and Central North America
- Sibley Field Guide to Birds, Eastern North America
- National Geographic, Field Guide to the Birds of North America
All of the above titles except National Geographic have been split between eastern and western regions. Eastern have been specified however, if your geographic regions falls in the western hemisphere of N.A. you will want to use the western versions.
- Birds of New Jersey by NJ Audubon Society. This book gives regional abundance of all the breeding, migrating and wintering birds in New Jersey.
- The Birds of Cape May by David Sibley. This book includes bar graphs (found in the back of the book) that illustrate seasonal abundance patterns of each species in Cape May County. This book is extremely helpful for novice and expert birders when deciphering who can be found when.
- Birds and Birding at Cape May: What to See, When and Where to Go by Clay & Pat Sutton. This book details where to go throughout the Cape May region, detailing 32 popular sites and lesser-known hot spots. The veteran naturalists who wrote this book pass along their knowledge on Cape May’s history, explanations on the migration phenomenon; as well as, inside tips on what birds can be found throughout the year and how you too can see them.
- Bird Finding in New Jersey by Bill Boyle.
- Birding and Wildlife Trails Guides
- The Birder’s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. This essential companion to your identification guide includes information on nesting, young, food preferences and foraging habits. In addition, you will find 250 short essays that cover all aspects of avian natural history.
How many guides do you need?
It is ideal for each child to have a field guide to be able to look
up each bird that they are identifying. However, if field guides are
in limited numbers they can be easily shared by pairing children and
having them take turns on looking up each individual species.
- For starters, Peterson’s Birding by Ear and More Birding by Ear has an easy to follow narration; groups songs into similar sounding species as opposed to taxonomic order.
- Arranged in taxonomic order, the Bird Song Ear Training Guide by John Feith breaks down selected songs and applies bird song mnemonics and narration. Mnemonics are an easy way to train your ear to recognize bird song. They can also translate into games/activities with young birders.
- As far as song study goes, the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs, Eastern Region appeals to most users. CDs are better than audio tapes for navigating from species to species and ease of playback.
- Thayer’s Birding Software, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Guide to Birds of North America- includes over 930 species found in US & Canada, bird songs, videos, articles and you can also create customized quizzes and checklists.
- Lang Elliott has published a variety of informational books
that include an Audio CD that are easy to use as well as
entertaining. The following are useful for working with
beginning birders:
- Know Your Bird Sounds Vol. 1
- Know Your Bird Sounds Vol. 2
- A Guide to Night Sounds
- Bird Songs can also be downloaded onto your iPod or MP3 player from a CD.
There are many fantastic curricula and resources available that are solely focused on birds and/or have components that help enhance teaching about birds. Many of the following are available at CMBO’s nature stores:
- NJAS Bridges to the Natural World has lessons about bird identification, bird song, migration and creating habitat for birds and other wildlife.
- NJAS Songbirds at the Crossroads of Migration focuses on songbird migration, habitat use and research/monitoring techniques. This set of lessons is geared to high school students and can be found at http://www.njaudubon.org/Education/Oases/Project/Schools/SongbirdsTOC.html
- Sharing the Wonder of Birds with Kids by Laura Erickson
- A Guide to Bird Education Resources, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- How Birds Fly, by John Terres
- Tales Alive! Bird Tales form Near and Far, by Susan Milford
- Giving back to the Earth: A Teacher’s Guide for Project Puffin and Other Seabird Studies, by Pete Salmanson and Steve Kress
- Sharing Nature with Children I and II, by Joseph Cornell
- How Do Birds Find Their Way?, by Roma Gans, illustrated by Paul Mirocha
- She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!, by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by David Catrow
Center Focus - A binocular focus mechanism, often controlled by a wheel that simultaneously adjusts the image seen in both barrels.
Diopter or adjustment ring - Allows for you to compensate for differences between your right and left eye. Usually found near the right eye cup (or more recently integrated in to the focus wheel) the diopter ring allows for separate adjustment of the focus for one eyepiece (usually the right). The ring adjuster allows you to attain a proper focal balance when you have one eye that is stronger than the other.
Field of View (FOV) - The widest dimension of the circular viewing area seen through a binocular. This measurement may be listed on the binocular in either degrees or feet, measured at 1000 yards. Conversion: One degree equals 52.5 feet/1000 yards.
Mnemonics - A word pattern or rhyme that mimics or recalls the song or call of a species. For example teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher is one of the common songs of the Ovenbird.
Objective lens - This lens is at the end of the binocular away from the eyepiece or the lens closest to the object being viewed. The surface area of the objective lens determines the light-gathering power of a binocular.
Ocular lens - This is the lens in the eyepiece, closest to the user’s eye. It is usually smaller than the objective lens.
Taxonomic order - The arrangement of birds according to their physical traits, beginning with the species determined to be most primitive and concluding with those determined to be the most evolutionarily advanced.
Laura Guerard, Manager, BirdCapeMay on-line