Shop the best selection of binoculars worldwide at Binoculars.com!

Popular and highest rated by customers are featured NOW at Binoculars.com .

 I would be sleeping at the switch if I did not TELL YOU about them!

If you ever longed for a  pair of Swarovski binoculars, NOW is the time for a great deal on fantastic binoculars.

Hey, if you buy a pair of Swarovski binoculars maybe I can too! How is that for motivation?

Well, it is a bit of a stretch! But indeed the highest rated binoculars on sale is worth taking a look at.

There is also a section in their online store for the MOST POPULAR binoculars and those that are featured for 30% off year end sales.

Do take a few minutes to check them out. You just might find what you have been waiting for at a price you can afford.

And let me know how it goes. I shop there too.

Why do I shop there? Because of their products and service. They are the binoculars experts! I see the best selection of quality products. They carry top of the line binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, and more and generally offer the lowest prices around. Customer service searches and special features like Bill Me Later, 30-day satisfaction guarantee and dedicated low-cost shipping, are the icing on the cake.

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The 109th Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science in Action

It is not only on Christmas Day. It began on Sunday, December 14, 2008 and data is collected until Monday, January 5, 2009.

“Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.”
- Henry Van Dyke

One remarkable thing I noticed online this season is the ability to look for other birders and Audubon chapters by zip code.

Beginners and experienced birders are all welcome to participate. It is citizens in action.

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Birds and People do not always co-exist peacefully.

And yet as strange as they sound. Their colors continue to astound.

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While It is true that I have answered my bird ID question to my satisfaction, AND found an excellent online guide to identification I am really curious to know what you are using for your online IDs.

My rufus colored hawk was, as I guessed, a red shouldered hawk. And It felt good to identify it from previous study of my birding guides.

The second hawk was most likely an immature red-shouldered hawk, having been seen so close to the other bird and so similar in size and body shape. Its eye stripe was distinctive and I found that interesting.

So, my current and best online source is Cornell University online. And I am not surprised. For decades they have been the bird experts. And it is terrific to be ranking so well with them in the search engines.

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Are you ready for your participation in the Annual Christmas Bird Count?

The Audubon Society has an annual Christmas Bird Count and has had one for more than 100 years.
In the old days, the birds had to be CAPTURED. Now they are seen and heard and photographed. This is a much more sane approach to bird conservation.

You can participate even if you are a brand new bird-watcher trying out your new bird binoculars!

Three things for you to note here.
1. Register ahead of time to get involved with a count near your location.

2. Be prepared with your bird binoculars in good condition and your latest or most favorite birding guide.

3. Dress for the weather! Be prepared.

Now if you have NO CLUE what I am talking about here, the time period for the Christmas Bird count runs from Dec 14th to January 5th. You can be a backyard birder or a professional. You can be on a team of experienced birders, depending on your location.

What is the purpose? It links Science and people in a very proactive way. People Collect data and it is analyzed for getting a better understanding of the health of the bird populations AND the health of the planet.

Here are two samples of that kind of data. This is about the American Kestrel, a terrific little hawk.

And this is an overview of how the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) helps birds and in the long run, helps people.

So clean your binoculars and make sure the straps are sturdy. Refresh your memory about which birds are found in your region and go forth to bird this season as part of a science team gathering vital data about birds in your locale.

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Condor Gear is Here

Wear your passion for Condors. Let your gear speak out loud and clear for endangered species. Display California Condor Art at your home or office.

Purchases made from this PAGE will result in a 10% donation

to support Conservation Research for Condors

See more about the California Condors here. Or at these sites shared by other Condor Lovers Or at this Odd Birds Site.

© 2008, bydpb

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I was on a trip mostly high speed roads and did not stop to ID the endless hawks that I saw out that day.

Most were red-tailed hawks. I saw LOTS of Turkey vultures and crows and RAVENS feeding on dead deer along the road side.

I also saw 2 magnificent hawks I could not recognize at high speed and could not stop just then.

My book was buried in my trunk and I have been at meetings so I haven’t identified them yet.

One had a bright rufous chest and grayish back and blackish head, about the size of red-tail.
The other had its back to me and had an alert or startled posture all tightened up, so what I noticed was black and white feathers and a DISTINCTIVE white and Black eye stripe pattern.

What surprised me was how I had trouble finding a GOOD online BIRD ID site. Lots of great hawk and birds of prey info, but can anyone point me to a good - really good- online Bird ID that includes hawks and other raptors?

Thanks folks. I ran out of time and could not look through pages of flicker photos.

Have a great birding day. This one should be good for me too.

Do your bird watcher shopping HERE.

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All around I see signs of the change of the seasons, even a flock of robins in my front yard as they were heading south.

A friend of mine was telling me about Canada Geese in migration. Soon I will visit the wildlife refuge to see how many ducks have arrived.

And we had a few flurries of snow today.

But it is the stores and the decorations that tell me Halloween and Thanksgiving are behind me now. I was waiting until October to put this post up.

And then I waited a little longer.

This is a concern for me. I do not want to commercialize these holidays. Yet, I do want you to know about places where you can find some really fine gifts for your friends and families. Yes, even bird binoculars or bird guides for the bird lovers on your list. As winter approaches in the north it is time to prepare for serious bird feeding and I have some bird feeders you can enjoy and appreciate as well.

So, instead of waiting to alert you to some possibilities, I am posting this series of small banners to serve as a mini-window shopping experience for you. Also, these sites are either mine or from friends of mine. Right now we only need 2 more sales to be able to move into the next level of sales. Of course that means a tiny bit more commission. And truth be told, that does help pay the bills. I hope you will choose to shop with me this season.Sure, you can give us the boost to the next level if you choose.
Enough words today. Here are the banners to places where I shop too.

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Red-tail vs Eagle in Flight- go ahead, cast your ballots. Who will be the winning bird in this territorial dispute?

Details: Observed in western PA in the Allegheny Mountains in an open field in late October, 2008.

A pair of Red Tail Hawks soaring overhead while I set up my tiny tent between two large bales of rolled hay.

I took out my compact Bushnell binoculars from my pocket to confirm their identification. I silently sent them a “message” - Okay beautiful birds, I know this is Your dinner table but it is my place to sleep for the next few days, so let’s not make it an issue, ok? They continued to circle oblivious to my silent plea for a truce.

The next morning before I crawled out of my tent, of course I LOOKED out the windows. Observed 4 deer (all does) feeding about 50 feet away and my hawks were not yet stirring in the sky.

I stayed in the tent until the fog cleared to let the deer feed longer, so I quietly packed up my gear, glancing out the windows now and then.

After it warmed up and the deer moved on, I began to carry my gear to the car in small bundles. That was about 11 AM and bright and sunny.

I glanced overhead in response to a keening call from a hawk. And was I ever surprised. The red-tail was chasing and harrassing a HUGE bird. (Note to non-birders- Red tail Hawks are BIG birds.) My first thought was “My gosh Red is chasing a golden eagle!” I ducked behind the hay bales and scurried back to the tent for my binoculars to confirm my ridiculous siting.

As I grabbed my compact Bushnells, I said to myself,” Duh, Golden Eagles don’t LIVE here!” Now flat on the ground I rolled over for a better view and confirmed it was a indeed a red-tail hawk harassing a JUVENILE BALD EAGLE right out of its territory. The juvenile persisted for a while and made some large circles around the field perhaps 100 ft overhead.

The hawk persisted in chasing, calling and harassing until finally with the flick of a wing feather the juvenile bald eagle left the scene. The hawk returned to the treeline and I rolled over in the grass, stunned and thrilled by this early morning wild-life show.

Cheers for vacation time! Thanks Birds!

So which one did YOU choose as the winner?

Red-tailed Hawk

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Observed and Identified with my compact Bushnell binoculars!

What a delight. Details will follow.

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