While you don’t need everything on this list to get started, eventually you’re going to want to have the gear that birdwatchers have. It’s going to make your new hobby very exciting, and you’ll really be able to enjoy it all so much better.
- Binoculars – When you choose birdwatching binoculars, you’ll want to focus on image clarity, weight, field of view, how you focus it, quality, price, and of course whether you like it or not. You can get good birdwatching binoculars for about $100, but you can spend way more too.
- Spotting Scope and Tripod – This is an excellent thing to have to help you spot birds for watching. This is a wish-list item for the birdwatcher in that they’re not cheap. You can find them for under $500 dollars, but this is an investment.
- Field Guides – This is a guide you can buy for each area you’re birdwatching in. It tells you what birds are in that area and where you may find them. You’ll want to buy one for every area you plan to birdwatch.
- Bird Checklist – This is another item you can sometimes buy in the area you’re looking at. Someone may offer the checklist of birds that you can find in that area. You may find some online for each area. Here is one from Tucson’s Audubon Society (https://www.z2systems.com/neon/resource/tas/files/TAS-Checklist-2011-nomarks.pdf).
- Hat – Anytime you’re walking outside, you need to protect yourself from the sun, and a good hat will do that. Remember: don’t wear bright colors when you’re birdwatching.
- Good Waterproof Shoes – You may need to walk through marshes and wet areas. The best birdwatching shoes are waterproof hiking boots. Your feet will be happy and you’ll be able to walk further.
- Backpack – You’ll need something to put all your gear in, so get the type of bag or carrier that works best for you. Backpacks are nice because you have your hands free.
- Water Bottle – When you’re spending a lot of time hiking and outdoors, you need to stay hydrated. Remember to bring your own ecologically-friendly water bottle and not use plastic throw-away bottles.
- Notebook and Pen – You’re going to want to record what you see and hear. The more you note what you’re experiencing, the more likely you are to learn and remember.
- Optics Cleaner – Whether it’s your scope, your binoculars, or your camera, they will get dirty. To clean them, you’ll need a lint-free cloth, compressed air, and possibly a safe lens cleaner.
- Camera with Telephoto Lens – This is something every birding enthusiast wants, of course. Taking pictures of what you see is fun and educational to look at and label later.
- Insect and Sun-Proof Clothing – Since you’re outside, you’ll want to guard your body against bites and the sun. DEET is best for bugs, but use your best judgment depending on the environment you’ll be in.
Focus on ensuring you have the safety gear for yourself before you add on to the list. Keep yourself safe, dry, and hydrated and then focus on all the birding things that make it more fun, like your binoculars or specialized camera lenses.
