Look! Over there!

Look! Over there! What? I don't see anything! If you are going to do any kind of bird watching you need a good pair of binoculars. Even if you are watching the birds at your feeder from your window a good pair of binoculars will help you to identify one feather friend from the other. It is great fun to get to know who is coming for dinner! You may even spot a rare bird!

You don't have to break the bank to get a good pair of binoculars for bird watching. However you should spend enough to get glass lenses that are slightly coated. You can tell if they are coated by holding the binoculars under fluorescent light. The lens should look purple or amber. If it looks clear or white it is not coated properly.
The power of the binoculars is written somewhere on the pair and is expressed with a number in front of an X. The number tells how many times the object will be magnified; example 7X means the object will be 7 times bigger in your field of vision. Usually 7x or 8x is enough for backyard birding.
The number after the x represents how much light is let in the binoculars. The more light, the larger the number, the better you will be able to see the image under low light conditions. The average is 30 or 35. The other number, usually below the x, represents the field of view for the image you are looking at or for! The larger the number, the larger the field of view which permits easier and quicker spotting. This number can be shown as degrees or width in feet when something is 1,000 yards away. Small numbers represent a narrower field for viewing which eliminates extraneous details but makes it more difficult for focusing. The novice would benefit from a wider field of vision.
Two other considerations when buying a pair of binoculars: weight and eyepiece comfort. Large binoculars can be heavy and cause you to shake after a few minutes which will leave you looking for the bird that got away! There are also eye piece options such as soft rubber around the lens. Whatever pair you choose be sure to test them at the store for a good, comfortable fit as a good pair will last a very long time and will bring you many wonderful birding outing even in your own backyard!