Birds are incredible; with so many species to observe, in so many colours and with so many different traits and habitats, watching them can never be boring, and when you spot a rare one with your Celestron Nature DX 8x42mm binoculars, the feeling is almost indescribable – for twitchers, anyway!
If you’ve always loved watching birds but never thought to take it up as a hobby, or are trying to find a hobby that will encourage you to spend more time outdoors, birdwatching could be just what you need. And talking about needs, what do you need to start a hobby in birdwatching?
A good pair of binoculars
This is absolutely essential, as while you might be able to spot some birds with the naked eye, you may never get to know exactly what species they are, or observe their colours and behaviours in detail, without a good pair of binoculars.
When shopping for a pair of binoculars, note that you don’t always have to spend a small fortune to get a good pair, and many twitchers find that Celestron Nature DX 10x42mm binoculars are an ideal match for their birdwatching needs. You may want to focus on their ease of use, how comfortable they are to hold, and whether they’re waterproof or not. For example, a heavy duty pair of binoculars that weigh you down might not be suitable for such a pastime, and the easier you can adjust the focus, the better, especially when time is of the essence and you need to tick that lesser spotted throat warbler off of your to-see list!
A bird guide
Knowing what types of birds to look out for in your area, and at what time of the year it’s best to see them, can be the difference between a successful day of birdwatching, and a totally wasted one. Get yourself a pocket sized guide to the birds in your locality, and start ticking them off!
A decent camera
While you don’t have to take a photograph of the birds that you spot, can you ever be sure anyone else will believe you when you tell them what you’ve seen? Aside from proof though, capturing birds on film is a wonderful way to look back at your time spent birdwatching, and if you take some good pictures, you might even be able to sell them or enter them into wildlife competitions.
Good shoes
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet, or crouching behind trees, you want a comfortable pair of shoes that are ideally waterproof, and which enable you to move around without making too much noise, which could disturb birds in your immediate vicinity.
A hat
Not only can a hat protect your head from the sun’s rays, or keep it warm on a winters day, but it can also act as another element of camouflage that helps to hide you when you’re birdwatching.
With this in mind, it helps if your entire outfit is as camouflaged as possible, and that way you might see a lot more birds and other wildlife, than you otherwise would.
While binoculars are essential for birdwatching, there are plenty of brands out there offering affordable models that will help you get up close and personal with your feathered friends.