nature conservation foundation

Binoculars, often referred to as binocs/ bins/ nocs are the birders best ally in the field helping them spot, identify, and fully appreciate the beauty of the birds. Like a superior tool enhances the craft of an artisan, so does a good pair of binocs enhance the ability and overall experience of the birder.Binoculars come in all shapes, sizes and more importantly prices, which can get shockingly high. So the ability to pick the right pair for oneself is very crucial. While the more expensive binocs tend to have higher…

As an ardent birder, nothing gives me more joy than the simple act of cleaning my binoculars (‘bins' in birder slang). A clean pair of ‘bins' is the most indispensable tool that a birder needs to spot and observe birds doing what they naturally do. Bird-watching or ‘birding' is watching and observing birds and their behaviours in their natural habitats. In other words, all birders like to watch birds, or ‘go birding', or simply, ‘bird'. Birding, as an activity, includes watching or admiring birds, photographing or filming…

Arrival of winters is indeed a pleasant emotion for everyone and a bit more for birders, since with fall migration arrives the mesmerising flocks of migratory birds. And every birder emphasises on making the most of it, but for a new birder arises the question, “Do I need a spotting scope?” specifically for waterfowl and shorebirds!This is a complete self-decisive question — you are the only one to decide if it's worth the investment. There are various perks and detriments of buying and using a spotting scope, which I…

Capturing great bird photographs has its own set of challenges. Many beginners wanting to try their hand in bird photography may have a perception that they need to buy an expensive camera and lenses to match. While it is true that the top-of-the-line cameras and premium lenses produce superior results in challenging conditions, still don't expect it to be the end-all-be-all. For successfully photographing wild birds in the wild, you need a camera, a long focal length lens, and a good tripod. Once you are confident about…

Macro photography in its truest form deals with photographing minute things to make them appear larger than life, characteristics that the naked eye would often miss. That by itself can make things magical — making the mundane appear awesome! That flower you see from far as pretty can be pretty captivating up-close, with the anthers, pollen, petals making you rethink if that botany class in school was really boring.The epidemic had most of the country locked down, bringing human movement to a minimum. This made us explore…