Category Archives: Birds & Birding

Birders in a grassy field looking off in the distance.

How to Make the Most of the 40th Anniversary of Bird-a-thon   

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Kaylin D.

Bird-a-thon is Mass Audubon’s largest annual fundraising event, and this year is the 40th anniversary. Birders from across the state join teams to fundraise and take part in competitions, programs, and more as a celebration of spring. The event this May will be over Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13. Join a team and join the fun! 

Competitive Birding

A group of birders in a meadow looking off into the distance at the trees.

The highlight of Bird-a-thon for many is the birding competition that takes place over 24 hours from 6 pm on Friday, May 12, to 6 pm on Saturday May 13. Over the course of the day, 13 teams compete against one another to see who can spot the most species of birds. At the conclusion of the 24 hours awards are given out to teams for spotting the most birds overall, the most from one stationary location, and to the team who spots the highest percentage of birds possibly spotted within a given county, amongst other awards.  

To learn more about competitive birding during Bird-a-thon and to explore joining a team check out the 2023 Bird-a-thon page.  

Nature Activity Points 

Two American Goldfinches standing at a bird feeder.
American Goldfinch

If you are not interested in competitive birding but are still craving competition Bird-a-thon weekend, join a team and take part in earning nature activity points. These points are separate from the points that those taking part in competitive birding earn, and the two teams that amass the most nature activity points will earn an award.  

Activity points can be earned in a variety of ways, from sharing a picture of a bird you spotted on social media to drawing a picture of a bird to filling up your birdfeeder. Points can also be earned by completing fun activity sheets created just for Bird-a-thon! These include a bird word search, nature coloring pages, a scavenger hunt, a bird match-up quiz, and more. To explore all the nature activities and access the downloadable activity worksheets, check out the Bird-a-thon 2023 Nature Activity Points Page! 

Take a Program

Yellow bird in the trees with white flowers.
Yellow Warbler © Anthony Lischio

Connect with nature and expand your knowledge of the birds of Massachusetts on a birding program. Start your weekend off with a Spring Bird Walk at Boston Nature Center in Mattapan on Friday evening, May 12, focused on spring migratory birds that reside in urban habitats.  

Visit Moose Hill in Sharon on Saturday morning, May 13, to soak in the early morning sun as you walk the trails during peak warbler migration and identify birds by sight and sound with the help of a naturalist. 

 And spend your Saturday evening at Wachusett Meadow in Princeton learning how to Bird By Ear on a walk led by former artist-in-residence at Mass Audubon, Barry Van Dusen.

Visit a Wildlife Sanctuary  

Green field full vegetation with green trees in the distance.

May in Massachusetts is the perfect time to get outside and explore. If you are not interested in nature activity points or programs, spend the day visiting one of Mass Audubon’s more than 60 sanctuaries around the state for a hike and to look for birds and other wildlife. 

For beautiful coastal views, a chance to walk on the beach, and to spot coastal birds, visit Allens Pond in South Dartmouth or Long Pasture in Barnstable. If you are looking for idyllic meadows with the chance to see farm animals and birds that frequent meadow habitats, visit Wachusett Meadow in Princeton or Drumlin Farm in Lincoln.  

And if you are in search of a more rugged hike with trails that will take you through woodlands as you look and listen for forest birds, take a trip to Moose Hill in Sharon or Pleasant Valley in Lenox.  

Woman sitting on a bench in the woods, looking through a pair of binoculars.

A Beginner’s Guide to Binoculars 

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Kaylin D.

Binoculars are simple, right? Look through one end, turn a nob at the top, and call it good? It’s actually a little more complex than that. Among other things, wildlife watchers need to consider magnification, weight, and field of view. Lucky for you, the Mass Audubon Shop has the low-down on everything related to optics. 

Binoculars vs. Scopes 

Birders use both binoculars and scopes, but there are some key differences. As the name binoculars suggest, binoculars have two objective lenses, one on the end of each barrel. Scopes, on the other hand, only have one objective lens. With one large lens, scopes typically capture more light, allowing you to see at higher magnifications and are more useful when looking across great distances. Binoculars are a great introduction to optics, as they are more portable, more affordable, and also provide crystal-clear vision.  

A man standing on sand dunes looking through a pair of binoculars. A scope on a tripod is set up in front of him.
© Dennis Welsh

What to Look for in Binoculars 

Every pair of binoculars is marked with a set of numbers, such as “8 x 42,” which refers to the magnification (8) of the binoculars and the diameter of the objective lens (42). The magnification used by most birders is usually between 7 and 10, but don’t make the mistake of thinking bigger is better. A lower magnification means you can see a wider field of view and it is easier to keep the image steady. A higher magnification sees more detail, but the field of view is reduced. If you are inexperienced in using binoculars, a wider field of view of an 8-power (vs. a 10) is more helpful when trying to locate a bird or animal in the distance. 

The larger the objective lens, the more light can enter and, theoretically, the brighter the image should be. A larger objective lens also increases binocular size and weight—something to consider if you are hiking all day. 

Using Your Binoculars

First, check to see if the eyecups are turned up or down (when binoculars come out of the box, eyecups are typically down). People with glasses should use their binoculars with the eye cups twisted down. 

Once the eye cups are in the proper position for you, hold the left barrel steady and rotate the right barrel until you see one perfect circle of light through both eyes. Then, use the center focusing wheel to create a single, clear, crisp image.

Diagram of binocular components, including the eyecups, diopter adjustment, center focusing wheel, and the left and right barrels.

The Diopter Adjustment

Some binoculars have a diopter adjustment, an additional focusing tool typically used by people without glasses, and can be found as a ring on the right barrel. This adjustment accounts for any vision variances between your eyes and allows you to set the focus to accommodate the difference. There are a couple of ways to see if the diopter should be used—one of the most common procedures is doing a “triple check”.  

  1. On the first check, look through both barrels at a stationary object and use the focusing wheel to sharpen the image.  
  1. Next, cover the right barrel with your hand while keeping both eyes open. If the image is still clear with just the left barrel open, then do not adjust anything. If the image is fuzzy, readjust the focusing wheel.  
  1. For the last and final check, cover the left barrel—if everything is clear on the right eye, do not adjust anything. If you need to sharpen the image, slightly turn the diopter adjustment until the image is crisp.  

From there, do not turn the diopter ring—you will only need to use the main focusing wheel while exploring or viewing an object. 

Cleaning Your Binocular Lenses

If you notice your lenses could use a cleaning, first blow across the lens surface or use a “cleaning pen” (which looks more like a paintbrush than a pen) to remove any dirt or debris that could scratch the lens. 

Similar to cleaning a pair of reading glasses, lenses should be cleaned lightly with a microfiber cloth.  It’s helpful to breathe on the lens before using the cloth. Never use Windex or other similar glass cleaning products on the lenses.

Woman sitting on a bench in the woods, looking through a pair of binoculars.
© Phil Doyle

Buying the Right Binoculars

The best way to get an accurate feel for a pair of binoculars is by trying them out in person with our experts at the Mass Audubon Shop. We carry six different brands with varying magnifications, and members get a 10% discount. Plan your visit to the shop by going to shop.massaudubon.org/optics.

Take a Virtual Trip to the Shop to Learn about Buying Binoculars