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When people ask me how long I've been a birder I guess I'd have to say my whole life. From a very young age living in the UK I just loved to watch the birds & place food out for them, both at home and school! When I was in my teens I joined a local birding club, a chapter of the RSPB Royal Society for Protection of Birds, and started going out on regular field trips. This continues to this day, although I now live here in the States and my love of birds has only increased with time. Below is a page on birding resources containing lots of bird related links and to which I am always adding. You may either scroll down through them all or click on the categories at the top of the page to jump to that section. I like to go on field trips occasionally, both locally and out of state and have posted a summary with photos for some of them. These can be found on my Bird Trips Page below.
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| Optics... Probably one of the most important things I own - My Binoculars! I take them everywhere I go. These ones are the Nikon Venturer LX 10x42 roof prism, waterproof binoculars. They are extremely bright and sharp and although heavier than many others I use them on a halter type strap which moves the weight off of my neck onto my shoulders which allows me to wear them comfortably all day with no problems at all. I wouldn't trade them for the world! An extra pair of small compact binoculars are kept in the car! I also have a very small spotting scope made by Kowa (TS-501, 20x40, 50mm) which is very useful for traveling and hiking as it fits into my backpack being only 9.6" in length and weighing only 14.8oz! Of course being so compact the optical quality is not the same as the "big boys" which are certainly worth the investment, but it certainly is useful when hiking down some longer trails where the bigger scopes start to get heavy, or when I'm just birding by myself. It allows me to see twice as close as my binoculars and then some. Choosing binoculars is a very personal thing. Everyone sees differently and has their own preferences. Some like 8x for ease of finding a bird when in woodland settings or when birding on pelagic trips (out at sea), others prefer 10x for a closer view. Whatever you prefer, when looking for binoculars take your time and try out as many different kinds as you can. The same goes for spotting scopes. Below are some links that show the many types of binoculars and spotting scopes available. The present "Referance Standard" for binoculars can be seen at BVD (Better View Desired) web site below. They do change, and mine to the left here were the BVD ref. standard at one point. I still love my Nikons but now there are lighter versions and some excellent options! Better View Desired A great online resource with all the latest reviews. |
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 10x42 Nikon Venturer LX Superior E Binoculars. |
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| Audubon... Joining the local Chapter in your area is a great way to get to know other birders and to join in some of the various field trips offered both in and out of state. Trips are held several times during the month depending on the chapter and in most cases local meeting places are arranged before heading on to the birding destination. Everyone is encouraged to car pool on these trips which helps keep the car numbers in a caravan down to a minimum as well as being a good way to get to know other birders & make new friends. The Fort Worth Audubon here in North Central Texas has general meetings on the second Thursday of the month (except for summer months - June, July & August) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center on Camp Bowie Boulevard at Montgomery - Medical Education Building 2, Carl E. Everett Hall, Room 100. For more details visit their website at - FWAS Some good local birding spots in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex include Village Creek Drying Beds, Cement Creek, River Legacy Park, Fort Worth Nature Center, Haggerman NWR, Lake Tawokoni, Grapevine Lake and Colleyville Nature Center. The National Audubon Society Find your local chapter here. |
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 Mexican Jay in Big Bend National Park along the hike to Boot Canyon. |
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 Song bird Coffee Is the coffee you drink destroying rainforests and the birds that call it their home? Well, by purchasing "Shade Grown" coffee you will be helping to save thousands of acres of tropical rainforest as well as the migratory birds that winter there each year. Song Bird Coffee  Natural Cork Vineyards that use Natural cork to seal their bottles which can help preserve wildlife and birds in the Mediterranean regions of Europe by growing forests of the "Cork Oak" from which cork is produced. There is a fear that the increasing use of synthetic corks could be a threat to these forest habitats by decreasing the demand for natural cork. Selecting wines with natural cork could help preserve the cork forests and wildlife that live there. Click here for more info on where "Cork" comes from! The Natural Cork Quality Council
 Yard/Garden Birds
Click here to see the Species List of all the birds seen in my garden. © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved. 27297 |
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Birding
