Regardless of how close your feeders are located to your viewing position, a binocular view will reward you with closer looks when a new species arrives (Evening Grosbeak photos by Paul Konrad). If you are looking for a second pair of binoculars to keep at home, opt for a full-sized 8x42 model.

So often, we are satisfied with “close” looks at the birds that visit our feeders and birdbath close to our favorite window, but regardless of how close a view you have, try taking an even closer look – with binoculars. Try it once and you will be hooked at viewing birds at your feeders and bird bath with binoculars. If you already use your binoculars at home, you know what a difference it makes to view a bird perched at a feeder at 8x magnification! That’s especially true when it’s a new visitor to arrive at a feeder during late fall and early winter – or even a new bird you haven’t seen in your yard before.

Any time a new or unfamiliar bird lands at a feeder, or a rare bird appears at your birdbath, it should be automatic to check out the new arrival with binoculars. While birders tend to have binoculars in hand or within reach when we’re in the field, for some reason, at home we tend to become complacent about getting more detailed views of birds. At your next opportunity, take advantage of getting magnified views of the birds that are attracted to your feeders and water feature. Seeing the details of colors, markings, and feathers of feeder birds through binoculars makes any birds all the more interesting, and you can also take closer looks at their eye colors, the shape of different species’ bills, and even the color of their feet and legs is insightful.

There is just no comparison to viewing a bird with your unaided eyes and getting a closer look at every detail of birds using binoculars. Birders who have been using their binoculars at home know this and they can recall when they first began using binoculars to better appreciate the birds that appear outside their windows at feeders, in nearby trees, and among landscaping features. Getting closer looks at the details of birds at home will help you be a better birder when you visit a local park, walk along a hiking trail – anywhere you go.

It is often more difficult to focus on winter finches and buntings as they move quickly through the cover of leaves and branches, and trying to see the plumage details of birds you see in the woods or parklands is rarely as good as what you can see at home with the aid of binoculars. Some birds may also be a bit too far away to get a good view, but birds that visit your feeding station will spend some extra time to perch, eat, and perch again; staying relatively stationary in the process. This gives you a better chance to focus on the bird of your choice while getting a longer look to see every detail without leaves and branches in your field of vision.

Home Binocular Preferences

Some birders prefer to use the same binocular at home that they use in the field, while others like to have a second binocular that they can leave at home to monitor birds there. If you’re interested in adding a second pair especially for home, it’s a good idea to check the “close focus distance” of binoculars as you shop. Today, many binocular models allow you to focus on birds as close as 5 to 7 feet away. Although most birds will be beyond a 7 foot close focus range, the close focus distance is worth keeping in mind when you know you will be zeroing in on birds that are already pretty close at your feeding station or a nearby hedge.

It is even more important to always opt for full-sized 42mm binoculars rather than any compact binocular models in the 25mm to 35mm objective lens range to avoid a very narrow field of view. Binoculars with objective lenses in the 30mm range only provide a narrow view, which makes it much harder for you to find birds you are trying to focus on, thereby compromising your viewing experiences. As for magnification, sticking with an 8x (8 power) magnification is best, especially with objective lenses in the standard 42mm sized objective lenses that provide a wider field of view. If you select 8x42 binoculars, you will be set for any birds anywhere, including those you see from your windows and from your deck, porch, or balcony.

We all certainly have a wealth of binocular options available to choose from, and in case you prefer not to spend a lot on a second binocular, the good news is that the quality of economically priced binoculars is impressive. And when shopping for optics, there is enough competition in the market that you are likely to get a lot better quality binocular views than you expected.

There are also a few things to keep in mind when viewing birds when inside your home or outside in your yard. We have found that it’s important to make any movements slowly and carefully, even when reaching for your binoculars or raising them to your eyes. We see that birds often are aware of our movements, even when we are indoors with a glass window between us. When viewing birds we habitually move slowly and carefully, even waiting for a bird to look away before moving.

Birding at home can also provide the best practice for birders to quickly and instinctively get a bird in focus. It always takes a little practice to find a bird through your binoculars, and your index finger should instinctively know whether to turn the focus wheel left or right to focus closer or farther away. Practicing on birds that visit your feeding station or backyard landscape is helpful for anyone, because we all really want the action of finding birds in our binocular view to be easy, if not instinctive – and that enhances our everyday birding experiences.

Whether you are at home or in the field, the importance of having your binoculars within reach is important and fun, because when you least expect it a new bird can suddenly appear to excite you. But just getting a closer look at the birds that you see during a given 5-minute break can help you enjoy birding at home and in your yard all the more, and it’s no secret how much binoculars can enhance your backyard birding moments.

Share your backyard birding experiences and photographs with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com