What to buy BIRDERS - The BladeDec 20, 2016 · BIRDERS What to buy 2016 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 5...
1
THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO ■ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016 SECTION A, PAGE 5 toledoBlade.com B irding is one of the fastest-growing forms of recreation nationally, but especially here in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan along the environmentally sensitive Lake Erie shoreline. In northwest Ohio alone, birding gen- erates an estimated $37 million in eco-tourism from an estimated 75,000 visitors during the peak migration months of April and May. So here’s your chance to earn your wings as a gift-giver, by con- sidering these ideas for anyone from the fledgling to the professional birder. —BLADE STAFF WRITER, TOM HENRY * Prices and availability subject to change. BIRDERS What to buy 2016 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 5 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT Celestron Nature DX binocular Everyone needs a good pair of optics. $89 to $200 at Cabela’s, Amazon and various other websites. Subscription to Birds and Blooms Magazine and BirdWatching Magazine One of the more popular bird and garden magazines, you’ll find easy-to-understand articles here. Birds and Blooms is offering a limited-time special of $7 for one year; $13 for two years. See birdsandblooms.com. For Bird Watching Magazine, one of the premier maga- zines about wild birds, subscriptions start at $26.95 a year through the magazine. Saucer-type hummingbird feeder Fact: Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward. ey’re also cool to watch. is one’s a good feeder for easy cleaning, and is designed to prevent bees and wasps. Import- ant: No red dye in the sugar water. $16 to $30 at Walmart, Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, and via several other compa- ny websites. Recycled plastic bird feeder Great for attracting and feeding many types of birds. $30 at Bass Pro Shops. Celestron Hummingbird spotting scope A really great little scope with excellent glass — and it fits in the palm of your hand. $300 to $360 at B & H Pho- to. Other options at Gander Mountain and Cabela’s. Black Swamp Bird Observatory membership Sponsors of the Biggest Week in American Birding, and one of this region’s most active birding organi- zations. $35 for individual. Several membership levels ranging from $15 to $500. Black Swamp Bird Obser- vatory. Federal Duck Stamp Since the 1930s, Federal Duck Stamps have generated more than $850 million for 5.5 million acres of habitat for wildlife and future generations. Ninety-eight cents of every dollar from this program help secure valuable refuge habitat. $25 at Black Swamp Bird Observatory gift shop or online via PayPal. Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp is stamp helps support habitat resto- ration, land purchases, and conservation easements. $15 at Black Swamp Bird Ob- servatory gift shop or online via PayPal. Birds and Beans bird-friendly coffee Bird-friendly beans from coffee farms that preserve bird habitat. umbs up for it from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Ten percent of profits are donated. Starting at $12.50 for 12-ounce bags, direct order from company. Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America One of the industry’s more popular reference books, written and illustrated by Kenn Kaufman of Oak Harbor, Ohio. $12.78 and up (retail is $18.95) at Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and other sites. Birding Apps Back in the day, birding gear was mostly about binoculars, books, and scopes. Now, apps have become one of the hottest tools, using GPS to help you identify birds in the field in real time with images, sound, and maps of other sightings. Audu- bon’s has 821 North American species. Another popular one is offered by Birdseye. Free downloads for basic service; costs start at $2.99 a month for Birdseye’s expanded service for members. *
Transcript of What to buy BIRDERS - The BladeDec 20, 2016 · BIRDERS What to buy 2016 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 5...
THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO ■ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016 SECTION A, PAGE 5toledoBlade.com
Birding is one of the fastest-growing forms of recreation nationally, but especially here in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan
along the environmentally sensitive Lake Erie shoreline. In northwest Ohio alone, birding gen-erates an estimated $37 million in eco-tourism
from an estimated 75,000 visitors during the peak migration months of April and May. So here’s your chance to earn your wings as a gift-giver, by con-sidering these ideas for anyone from the � edgling to the professional birder.
—BLADE STAFF WRITER, TOM HENRY
* Prices and availability subject to change.
BIRDERSWhat to buy 2016 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
5SHOPPINGDAYS LEFT
Celestron Nature DX binocular Everyone needs a good pair of optics. $89 to $200 at
Cabela’s, Amazon and various other websites.
Subscription to Birds and BloomsMagazine and BirdWatching Magazine
One of the more popular bird and garden magazines, you’ll � nd easy-to-understand articles here. Birds and Blooms is o� ering a limited-time special of $7 for one year; $13 for two years. See birdsandblooms.com. For Bird Watching Magazine, one of the premier maga-zines about wild birds, subscriptions start at $26.95 a year through the magazine.
Saucer-type hummingbird feederFact: Hummingbirds are the only birds that can � y backward.
� ey’re also cool to watch. � is one’s a good feeder for easy cleaning, and is designed to prevent bees and wasps. Import-ant: No red dye in the sugar water. $16 to $30 at Walmart, Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, and via several other compa-ny websites.
Recycled plastic bird feederGreat for attracting and feeding many types of
birds. $30 at Bass Pro Shops.
Celestron Hummingbird spotting scopeA really great little scope with excellent glass — and it
� ts in the palm of your hand. $300 to $360 at B & H Pho-to. Other options at Gander Mountain and Cabela’s.
Black Swamp Bird Observatory membership
Sponsors of the Biggest Week in American Birding, and one of this region’s most active birding organi-zations. $35 for individual. Several membership levels ranging from $15 to $500. Black Swamp Bird Obser-vatory.
Federal Duck StampSince the 1930s, Federal Duck
Stamps have generated more than $850 million for 5.5 million acres of habitat for wildlife and future generations. Ninety-eight cents of every dollar from this program help secure valuable refuge habitat. $25 at Black Swamp Bird Observatory gift shop or online via PayPal.
Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp� is stamp helps support habitat resto-
ration, land purchases, and conservation easements. $15 at Black Swamp Bird Ob-servatory gift shop or online via PayPal.
Birds and Beans bird-friendly co� eeBird-friendly beans from co� ee farms that preserve bird
habitat. � umbs up for it from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Ten percent of pro� ts are donated. Starting at $12.50 for 12-ounce bags, direct order from company.
Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
One of the industry’s more popular reference books, written and illustrated by Kenn Kaufman of Oak Harbor, Ohio. $12.78 and up (retail is $18.95) at Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and other sites.
Birding AppsBack in the day, birding gear
was mostly about binoculars, books, and scopes. Now, apps have become one of the hottest tools, using GPS to help you identify birds in the � eld in real time with images, sound, and maps of other sightings. Audu-bon’s has 821 North American species. Another popular one is o� ered by Birdseye. Free downloads for basic service; costs start at $2.99 a month for Birdseye’s expanded service for members.
*
