There are lots of birdwatching accessories that most people don’t forget. However, there are other birdwatching accessories and gear that people may be overlooking, as they are not as obvious. Here, we will cover many birdwatching accessories that can be helpful for your next trip.
This blog post is all about birdwatching accessories that people frequently overlook.
Overlooked Birdwatching Accessories
1. Tick Tweezers
If you live in an area with ticks that carry lyme disease, you’ll want to have tick tweezers readily available. With tick tweezers, you can properly remove a tick and prevent lyme disease. If you remove a tick within 24 hours, your chances of getting lyme disease will be low.
Lyme disease is no joke. Up to 20% of people who get the disease will experience symptoms, including pain and fatigue, for around 6 months. In rarer cases, the after effects can last for years.
This is why having tick tweezers readily available is important. The sooner you get the tick removed, the less likely it’ll be that you get lyme disease. Tweezers that can remove ticks effectively are fine-tipped. Online, you can easily buy tweezers that are specifically designed to remove ticks at affordable prices.
Always be on the safe side and go to a doctor if you’ve been bitten by a tick.
2. The Right Clothing Colors
This one’s contentious. There seems to not be much of a consensus on what the proper colors are for birdwatching. The topic seems to bring out a lot of heated opinions for whatever reason.
The critics of wearing camouflage say that birds likely already know you’re present, as they can easily detect movement and can also hear you moving. Wearing camouflage can also put you at risk of being shot by a hunter. Even if you’re in an area where hunting isn’t allowed, illegal hunting is still a problem to this day. If you manage to startle a hunter, they may shoot, mistaking you for a dangerous animal.
If camouflage does have an effect, which many say it does, it’ll only be meaningful if you don’t alert birds to your presence in any other way.
Although you are likely good to birdwatch effectively without wearing camouflage, this doesn’t mean that you can get away with wearing neon pink or a white t-shirt. Bright colors, especially white, can alarm birds. It’s best to stick to darker colors and earth tones.
3. Portable Chairs
One of the great things about birdwatching is the fact that you don’t really need to move around at all if you don’t want to. Find the right spot and the birds can do all the moving for you. Birds are among the most active group of animals on Earth. Birds will fly away and be replaced by new birds regularly if you find the right location.
There are portable chairs and stools that are small enough to fit into a small backpack and weigh only 2 pounds. Get yourself one, that way you can sit and focus on the birds and the surrounding environment.
An alternative option is to bring a towel. When you find a rock or dry spot on the ground that you are comfortable sitting on, your towel will let you sit without getting your pants dirty.
If you’re going to birdwatch in the open, in the middle of summer, invest in buying an outdoor chair that has a built-in shade.
4. Binoculars (or other spotting equipment) with Phone Adapter
Chances are that I don’t need to tell you that you should bring binoculars when you go birdwatching. However, some don’t realize that your smart phone can be adapted to your binoculars or other spotting equipment.
Having the phone adapter will allow you to turn your binoculars into a powerful lens for your phone’s camera. You can take photos from your smart phone with the phone adapter.
Below we have a monocular lens adapted to a smart phone:
5. Extra Water
Bringing water is a no-brainer for birdwatching trips. However, it’s easy to forget that water isn’t only need for drinking. Water is also good for rinsing off your hands or equipment.
If you don’t bring enough water, you risk dehydration or even death depending on where you are. Bringing too much water, only means that you may need to carry a heavier load.
Having extra water can increase your load, but it’s worth it to not run out of water. At least you should keep extra water in your vehicle if needed later on.
6. First Aid Kit
Although birdwatching is among the safer outdoor activities, accidents can still happen. On the off-chance that you get injured, having a first aid kit available is essential. Tripping, falling, cuts are all possible in the field.
When considering weight, know that some of the smaller first aid kits are only 5 ounces. Also, remember to get familiar with how to use your first aid kit beforehand.
7. Flashlight or Other Light Source
When you first head out for the day’s birdwatching, being able to see at night is something you could easily overlook. But time has a tendency to fly when you’re having fun and it’s not fun to be a mile or more away from your car when daylight is rapidly fading.
Your smart phone can work as a light source but it’s not ideal. Flashlights are brighter and more reliable. Also, it’s a good idea to keep save your phone’s battery for other uses.
There are bright flashlights that are small enough to be in your pocket or on your keychain.
8. Hand Sanitizer
Having a good amount of water can rinse your hands off but it won’t disinfect them. That’s why having some hand sanitizer is needed to keep your hands clean. Make sure to get hand sanitizer that has an ethyl alcohol level of at least 60%, but 70% is preferred.
9. Physical or Downloaded Map
There are lots of great birdwatching locations where you will lose cell phone reception. During those moments you’ll want a map to reference when your phone gives out.
You can also download a map and have it on your phone. Make sure it’s download before heading out. Physical maps are still a good idea as a backup, as they can be used if your phone breaks or runs out of energy.
Afrotropical Parrot
10. Visor
Visors can make a great alternative to sun hats and baseball caps and they can also keep the sun out of your eyes. Some find visors more comfortable than other headwear. Wearing a visor also makes it easier to keep your hair style intact. Having a baseball cap or a sun hat on for hours and hours can force you to restyle your hair afterwards.
Others wear a visor because they think they look better in them than other headwear. It’s up to you and visors are cheaper than other hats.
11. Sunscreen and Lotion Combination
Any outdoor activity requires you wear sunscreen. Not wearing sunscreen can increase your chances of getting skin cancer and cause premature aging.
However, you may know that moisturizing your skin is a good way to prevent premature skin aging. Moisturizing your skin is especially important when you’re outside in a dry, arid climate.
By applying a product that doubles as sunscreen and lotion, you can keep your skin moisturized and safe from the sun.
Remember that you still need to ensure that the sunscreen is actually effective, the same way you would for a product that doesn’t have lotion mixed in. Quality sunscreen will have an SPF rating of 30 at least, with broad spectrum protection. Having those two qualities will ensure you get moisturized without sacrificing sun protection.
12. Backup Camera
One camera is all most people need for a successful birdwatching trip. However, cameras are not indestructible. It’s always possible that your camera will break or malfunction.
Having a backup camera is very important when you’re in an exotic location that you may not have another chance to visit. You don’t want to have a malfunctioning camera when you the chance to get a shot of a rare, endangered species.
Your backup camera doesn’t need to be nearly as fancy as your primary camera but buy something that can still take decent shots.
13. Waterproof Bag
When it starts to rain, you don’t want to get any of your electronic equipment wet, especially if you have an expensive camera.
Weather is unpredictable. This applies even more to tropical locations, where many people travel to, to see exotic birds. Some locations are well-known for having storms quickly roll in, when just an hour or so before, the skies were clear.
A very large zip-loc bag can do the trick. Beforehand, make sure that the bag you bring is big enough to hold any of your water-sensitive gear and equipment.
Conclusion:
This list covered lots of different birdwatching accessories that you may be overlooking. Although it’s technically impossible to be completely prepared for everything that could happen, it’s still a good idea to be prepared. A lot of these accessories and gear can be left in your car, where you can get them if you happen to need them.
