Close up views of wildlife are especially rewarding and
binoculars and telephoto lenses allow good viewing with minimal
disturbance to the animal. The most important feature of a
decent pair of binoculars is its ability to magnify and "gather"
light. All binoculars are described by a pair of numbers, such
as "7 x 35" or "8 x 40" etc. The first number refers to
magnification. A "7 x 35" pair of glasses will make objects
appear as if they are seven times as close as they actually are.
Pick binoculars that are at least seven power. Binoculars with
very high power (over nine-power) are sometimes difficult to
hold steady. The second number describes the diameter of the
large lens that faces the animal. A larger number indicates that
more light can enter the lens, giving you a brighter image in
dim light. Field guides are an essential part of wildlife
identification. Field guides can be very general, such as "Birds
of North America" or "A Field Guide to the Birds East of the
Rockies" or they may focus just on a par