north durham questions; Re: Binoculars

[Joshua Stuart Rose <jsr6@duke.edu>]

Hi Carolinabirders,

After seeing only female hummers for the first couple of weeks, an adult
male has set up shop at our feeder. Not coincidentally, I'm sure, I
haven't seen a single female at the feeder since he showed up. Probably
time to set up a second feeder... On Monday (my birthday), finally walked
the abandoned railroad track behind the house. Noted Song Sparrow, House
Wren, and - just as I came within view of Washington Street - a Cooper's
Hawk that flew from a powerline tower into the trees. Loads of Trumpet
Creeper flowering along there, as well as fruiting Blackberries, probably
explains the abundance of hummers and catbirds in our yard. Might have to
annex the railroad into our yard for purposes of keeping my yard list!

Questions: en route to a double-feature at the drive-in that night, passed
an aromatic water treatment plant on E. Club Boulevard just west of the
I-85 crossing. Thought of that Birding magazine article on sewage plants
that Karen Bearden mentioned not long ago. Anyone checked this place out
for shorebirds, gulls, ducks, etc.? Southbound shorebird season is getting
started, and with water in such short supply...

Then was trying to find the local branch of the USPS, and noticed a really
big grassy field at the north end of Miami Boulevard where it splits from
Alston. Anyone explored this for Grasshopper Sparrow, etc.? Probably a bit
late for this year, but I might snoop around next spring. Maybe over the
winter too.

On Wed, 10 Jul 2002, Kaye Fenlon wrote:
>
> One dealer said if
> I am birding I should not consider anything other than a 10x 42??

This goes contrary to the conventional wisdom among birders, which says
that (a) you want either 7x or 8x, and (b) the field should be at least
five times the magnification, meaning 7x35, 8x40, or 10x50. I've run into
birders successfully using everything from 10x20 to 7x50 (and
unsuccessfully using various others). Not sure why the dealer told you
this, unless he had a surplus of 10x42 that he is trying to unload.

> PS. Weight is a concern too, because I carry a lot of camera equipment
> sometimes and I  would like something with a close focus.

With my almost-new Kahles (sister company to Swarovski, until recently
only made rifle scopes) 8 x 32 I can focus on my own ankles...

Good birding,

Josh


Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)

jsr6@duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/