NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/315021
JUNE 2014 • NEBRASKAland 17 16 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2014 Nebraska Bird Library Eastern Bluebird Song or calls: Musical, rising "chur-lee." Extended in song to "chur chur-lee chur-lee." Description: Uniformly deep blue above; orange- red throat, sides of neck, breast, sides and flanks; contrasting white belly; white undertail coverts. Female is duller overall. Juvenile is brown above; white below with brown mottling and has blue on wings. Habitat: Breeding birds favor open hardwood forests, especially those bordering grasslands. Breeding birds and migrants can also be found in forest edges, shelterbelts, city parks and farmsteads. Where in Nebraska: Spring and fall migrant across the state, most common in the east and rare in the extreme west. Common summer resident in eastern areas, and local breeder in the west. Status: Serious population decline in recent decades due to competition with starlings and house sparrows for nest sites. Specially designed nestboxes and concerned birdwatchers have resulted in a promising comeback. Fun Facts: The Eastern bluebird is also known as "blue robin" and "blue redbreast." ■ To learn about more birds visit: NebraskaBirdLibrary.org. Sponsored by PHOTO BY JON FARRAR PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER Choosing Binoculars By Julie Geiser Binoculars are a must for watching wildlife, but there are several considerations to ponder before your first, or your next, purchase. Buyers must first understand the numbers associated with binoculars. For example, if a pair is described as 7x35, the first number is the magnification power. Seven power, or 7x, means the binoculars make subjects appear seven times closer than with the unassisted eye. Most birdwatchers prefer 7x or 8x binoculars mainly because a higher magnification power will also be more difficult to keep steady while handholding. Lower power binoculars are usually lighter, tend to have a wider angle of view than more powerful models and often have a shorter minimum-focus distance – which is handy if you're trying to look at a butterfly or a bird at a feeder. The second number is the diameter (in millimeters) of the objective lens. The "50" in 7x50 means that the front lenses of the binoculars (the ones farther from you eye as you look through them) are 50mm in diameter. The larger the front objective, the more light entering the binoculars and the better you can see in dim light. Brighter images help reveal field marks and the beauty of bird colors, but in general the larger the objective lens, the heavier (and pricier) the binoculars. Field of view is another facet to consider, and is the width of the area you see while looking through your binoculars. The wider the field of view, the easier it is to locate your subject. The term "exit pupil" refers to the shaft of light transmitted through the binoculars to the eye and indicates how well the binoculars will perform in low light. Larger exit pupils transmit more light, thus a brighter image, and can be calculated by dividing the diameter of the objective lens by the magnification number. For example, 7x35 binoculars have an exit pupil of 5mm (35 divided by 7). And finally – always choose binoculars with fully coated optics. Most manufacturers coat exterior lenses, but the interior optics of some inexpensive binoculars may be uncoated, causing a loss of light. The quality of coating varies; more expensive binoculars usually have better quality optical coating. With so many choices available, always remember one thing: you get what you pay for. Use your personal preferences, budget and intended usages to determine what will be the best fit for you. ■