iPod | Thermal Birding

This post is in response to Greg Neise’s post on North American Birding and Nate Swick’s post on the American Birding Association Blog about what they carry in the field while birding (links for each post at bottom).

For starters, I use Nikon Monarch 8X42 binoculars. These are extremely light and I believe are the best bang for your buck under $500. They work well in any kind of habitat, whether you are birding in the forest or fields. I have a lens cloth I received from a bird conference in Kearney, NE attached to my bins as well.

I carry a Canon Rebel XS with a 300mm lens for taking photos in the field and use a 55mm lens when banding birds and for scenery shots.

As for a field guide, I generally use my iPod Touch now with the Audubon Guide to Birds of North America and Peterson Birds of North America apps. When carrying my pack, which I will mention later, I have a Sibley and sometimes a Peterson guide stashed in there. I also use my iPod to keep a bird list, via Birdcountr app (which you can send your lists directly to eBird!), and for recording songs and calls. I use an app called BirdsEye for locating birds that haven’t found their place on my year, state, or county lists. In addition, my iPod acts as a replacement for a point and shoot camera. Generally, I will have a Rite in the Rain journal to take field notes in stashed in my pack as well.

I carry all of my gear in a Tamrac 5547 Adventure 7 Photo Backpack.

For clothing, I wear anything from Carhart field pants to gym shorts, depending on the habitat. My choice of footwear varies from work boots, to sneakers, to hiking boots, to sandals or flip flops. I haven’t found a good pair of hiking shoes or boots to bird in, so I switch it up a lot.