Gear and Resources

Reviews and news covering birding guides, glass, and more

Birding is often improved with the right tools.

Do you need a pair of binoculars to enjoy birds? Not at all! Will a decent set of bins make observing and identifying them easier from a distance? Absolutely. Like any other hobby, birding comes with a whole host of accoutrement. Some items—like field guides and apps—have a low barrier to entry and can vastly improve your experience with minimal investment. Binoculars and spotting scopes can be costly, but there are also some great budget models. Below you'll find a range of recommendations for the gear that best suits you.  

Field Necessities
Worth a Read
Merlin Is Magical, but It Still Makes Mistakes
Merlin Is Magical, but It Still Makes Mistakes

As the popularity of the app’s Sound ID feature grows, so do concerns about how imperfect artificial intelligence impacts a trove of scientific data.

A Beginner’s Guide to Using eBird
A Beginner’s Guide to Using eBird

Birders and scientists alike have come to depend on this powerful platform. New to birding or intimidated by eBird? Don’t worry, we’ve got you.