[texbirds] Re: So what do you carry with you birding
- From: Jim Sinclair <jim.sinclair@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: custom_heirlooms@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:23:41 -0500
Well, after reading this thread, I'm changing the way I do business. From
now on, I'm going birding with Ronnie and use him for my pack mule;-)
On Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 10:43 AM, Jan Piecznski
<custom_heirlooms@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Getting around with birding and all this equipment, what do you do?
> This is what I have/borrow:
> Nikon camera 500mm lens, which is difficult to take the place of other
> viewing equipment because everyone has gasped at the idea of me putting a
> teleconverter on this set up.
> Back up battery for the camera
> How to books, because my pictures are still not in the decent category.
> Binoculars medium sized
> Monopod
> Window pod
> Tripod
> Spotting Scope
> Cases for everything
> Bird book (s) stays in the car, too heavy, no way I'm going to carry it
> I'll just have to review my notes or use my app
> Local birding checklist, pencil
> Phablet (Note 2 phone/camera) with bird apps
> External battery pack due to dead phone
> Mobile hotspot (so I can connect wirelessly to review something, since
> many areas are not available with my phone service)
> Water
> Bug Spray
>
> How about the change of shoes, rain poncho, lunch and walking stick? I'm
> sure there's a lot I'm missing.
>
> It all seems so cumbersome. I've tried the Nikon/binoculars before and
> they get all tangled up and I end up dropping the Nikon of course which is
> borrowed.
>
>
> I've tried to hang the Nikon attached to the monopod on me so I could
> carry my binoculars or something else. Which is about the time I trip
> myself trying to walk.
>
> I like my scope, but I get so frustrated trying to take a picture through
> it with my phablet. There's no way I can handle carrying the scope/tripod
> and much anything else. Look how hard it would be to find a Warbler with my
> scope, much less get a picture through it. But there are a lot of times it
> is needed.
>
> You shouldn't go without taking some water and bug spray is a must along
> the coast. The thought of carrying a backpack has crossed my mind, but
> then by the time I untangle myself or lay the Nikon on the ground to get
> into it the bird is gone and someone's tripped on the Nikon.
>
> Quick connects help, but the tripod has it's own and I can't put the same
> quick connect with the other 2 pods. So now I have 2 tripods, 1 with the
> individual quick connect for my scope and another one that uses the same
> quick connect I have on the window pod and monopod. The quick connects were
> a new addition because that's all I need is to unscrew the Nikon from one
> to the other and drop it again.
>
> But this is suppose to be enjoyable not a logistical nightmare of
> reasonable expectations for a hobby. Of course when I jump out at
> Lafitte's Cove, the time I only have my binoculars with me and my phablet
> is dead is when I see something unique. So now I've invested in external
> batteries to recharge my phone. Since I'm there frequently and I've been
> birding since the late 70s, I'm not a newbie. I've been trained by the
> best in our area. I am not self taught. I have no problems telling someone
> if I feel confident on the sighting or if I don't. I feel like that should
> account for something, so I can enjoy my time out. Not kill myself in the
> process or go broke replacing lens caps I've lost along the way managing
> everything else.
>
> After all this to still be told, your pictures are too grainy. For myself,
> I've learned that you either bird or you take pictures. Trying to do both
> at the same time is impossible. I probably could have handled it 20 years
> ago, but not now. As far as putting numbers of birds in Ebird, I rarely do
> it because I've had it tell me that insanely common birds the number I
> input was unusual. This was awhile back and I thought it was ridiculous and
> I'm not about to explain or take a picture of 12 Mourning Doves feeding in
> my yard, for example.
>
> So what's your tips on what you decide to take with you when birding,
> since you can't pull a wagon with you to take all the stuff?
>
> Jeannette Piecznski
>
> Liverpool, Tx
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--
Jim Sinclair (TX-ESA)
TOS Life Member
Kingsville, TX
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of
thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein
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