Why Is Birding So Popular?

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Nowadays, technology and money allow us to enjoy an infinite pool of leisure activities, all catering to our desires and needs. From traveling around the world to bowling, cooking classes, dancing, reading or bird watching, every activity has a club of enthusiasts ready to make a pitch for its benefits.

So, if you decided to pick up bird watching but you’re not sure if it’s worthy of your attention, here are some reasons that will help you make up your mind.

 

It doesn’t cost too much

Unlike yachting or traveling around the world, bird watching won’t require highly expensive equipment unless you’re a professional. A good quality pair of binoculars and the right clothes to protect you from harsh weather conditions is everything you need to enjoy this activity year-round.

 

It gets you outside

We live most of the day tied to our screens, indoors and outdoors. Whether we’re doing our job, talking on the phone or posting on social media, tech devices became an addiction for the younger generation. So, if you decided to take a break from your virtual reality and enjoy the simple pleasures of life, what better way than by bird watching?

This activity helps you get out of the house more and create a connection with nature. It allows you to breathe fresh air and expand your horizon of knowledge without constantly stimulating your brain.

It helps you exercise

Birding also represents a fun way to exercise without even knowing. Going on hitchhikes and finding the best spots in town to observe the birds often involves working all your muscle groups and helping you increase your endurance. In time, constant exercising, even if it’s in the form of walks, will improve your body condition, help you define your muscles, and lose a few pounds.

 

It’s a year-round activity

The great thing about birds is that they come in all shapes, forms, and colors, and you can learn more about their habits throughout the year. You don’t even have to go outside your town or city as there are plenty of species scattered all around the globe that have adapted to all weather conditions and temperatures.

However, the birds’ high season usually begins in early spring and ends in late fall or early winter, meaning you’ll have at least 8-9 months to learn more about their lifestyle and habits.

 

Bird watching communities are awesome

This activity is a great form of socializing, too. There are thousands of dedicated communities all around the world with enthusiastic people willing to share their findings and useful tips. You can join a local bird watching group and even participate in their regular events if you want to gain more experience and meet new people.

 

Don’t forget your binocular when going to safari

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If you plan a future African safari, you can’t leave your house without a good pair of binoculars in your luggage. Because this place has so many beautiful landscapes and animal species to admire, it’s imperative to know how to choose the best safari binoculars that can make your journey a memorable one.

The reason why binoculars are a must is that the chances of getting close to an animal during a safari are almost zero. If you have the binoculars in your backpack, you can see the fauna with all its interesting details. Don’t think that any tool will do because some cheaper models don’t provide a great view and you might waste precious time trying to adjust the focus while missing out the wonderful opportunities.

 

 

One aspect you need to consider is related to the magnification of the safari binoculars. Even though high magnification is a great feature, in reality, for safari, it’s kind of useless. If you have you much zoom, the image becomes shaky and unstable. Since safari trips are all about spontaneity and sharing a space with other tourists, you won’t have enough time nor space to install a tripod.

 

Having binoculars with high magnification means that the field of view is narrower. Since animals tend to hide in areas with big vegetation, you need a wide field of view to see them accurately. Therefore, you should stick to 8x or 10x magnification which is more than enough for a stable image.

As far as the lens size goes, bigger lenses enable you to see the objects even in low light conditions. Since you’ll be in the field generally early in the morning or at dusk, lenses that go from 32mm to 42mm do a great job during a safari. Nevertheless, don’t get a number smaller than that because the image can get darker. Lenses bigger than 42mm translate to a heavier and bulkier binocular, that takes a lot of effort to carry and to handle.  

 

 

We shouldn’t overlook the size and the weight of the safari binoculars, either. Lighter and smaller tools come in handy during the outdoor trip because they are easier and faster to put up and take off. Plus, you don’t waste precious time trying to get them out of your bag because they are too heavy to hold around your neckline or in your hand. If you choose a pair of binoculars with a decent magnification and lenses that allow you to view the images even after the sun goes down, you’ll be more than satisfied. A great option would be an instrument with 8×32 or 10×42 numbers in its technical specifications.

Because during safaris you will encounter high temperatures, dust, humidity, and rough areas, you should get binoculars that are also waterproof and shockproof.

 

 

Have you heard of the Air Force’s Hawaiian Volcano-Top Telescope?

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The East Maui Volcano is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in Hawaii, located at over 10,000 feet in altitude. More than twelve optical instruments and complex telescopes are operated by the United States Air Force many programs destined for observing the sky are grouped under the name AMOS, which stands for the Air Force Maui Optical Station.

Something you might be interested in with regard to this observatory is that it is not only designed to keep track of satellites and other types of human-made space objects. In fact, the observatory is also intended for the discovery of potential threats such as asteroids.

 

 

Many of the astronomers who are stationed at the East Maui Volcano Observatory are part of some programs and currently, work with scientists from the University of Hawaii. Over time, the station has discovered more than sixty minor planets. Some of the systems utilized here have been adopted by other observatories from other countries, which is to say that the technique employed to calibrate the telescopes in the East Maui Volcano is now used by other tracking systems in Chile and the rest of the world.

The sky holds many mysteries, and I hardly think that we will ever be able to find out all about them. Even if we were to be an advanced civilization with endless resources, it would be unfathomable for us to know all of the stars and planets that exist in the universe. It would be even more difficult actually to locate them and even see them up-close. I don’t think that I will live to see that day if there will ever be one for humanity.

 

 

I’ve loved watching the sky ever since I can remember. While I was growing up, I wished for a telescope, but my parents didn’t have the money to give me one. Eventually, when I was in my teens, I started working part time, so I managed to raise some money and got myself a brand new telescope.

These days, there are far better models than the one that I bought at that time. I didn’t even know that there were things like astronomy binoculars these days. One of the articles I came across went into detail as to which aspects one should take into account when in the market for such an optical instrument. I’ve never tried using a pair of binoculars designed for stargazing, but I’m looking forward to doing so.

 

 

Interesting facts about Mount Vesuvius

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Our planet is huge and it hides so many secrets that even scientists are far from discovering all of them. But, we must say that this is the beauty of Earth. The beauty is beneath what we know. The iceberg theory of Ernest Hemingway points to the fact that fiction highlights only the part of the iceberg that is seen from above the water. But the things that can be found hidden between the lines represent the iceberg’s bulk.

Even if this theory applies directly to literature, we can, as well, link it to our planet, the iceberg being as a metaphor – we know only what’s seen on the surface. The rest is beneath it.

Nevertheless, humanity has been able to discover a lot of curious things about Earth. One of the most interesting natural phenomena is Mount Vesuvius, since it is very old and it has a rich history.

 

Dangerous volcano

If you have ever wondered if Europe has an active volcano, then we can definitely say yes, it does. And, more than that, it is said to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. This mountain is located in the west of Italy and living in the cities in that area may be risky, since they can always be destroyed by an eruption. However, we hope it will not happen too soon.

 

One of the most significant eruptions

One eruption of this volcano lasted for about 24 hours and destroyed the Roman cities Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. More than 15,000 people died. It happened centuries ago, but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen again in the future.

Very old

Scientists say that this volcano dates back to 17,000 years ago. During these thousands of years, there have been eight major eruptions that have destroyed everything near the mountain.

 

The last one

The last eruption of this volcano happened in 1944. Believe it or not, this phenomenon lasted two weeks and, since the Pompeii Airfield was in the area, 80 planes were destroyed. Luckily, no people were in there.

 

Fertile volcano

It may be surprising, but this volcano is very fertile. The period during which it was not active, mainly before 1631, there were forests in the crater and even lakes!

 

National Park

Even if it is very dangerous, the Vesuvius area is now a National Park and people are able to visit it. There are roads and paths there, so if you want to see it, there is a chance!

Eruption warning

Luckily, there are technologies that are able to prevent an eruption around 16 days before it happens.

We wonder how many things there are to know more about Mount Vesuvius. Will humanity ever be able to know everything about it?

What are night vision devices?

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The vast majority of people imagine spy movies when hearing about night vision devices. We are all familiar with this case scenario when someone puts a pair of night-vision goggles and looks across the front building in order to see every detail even if it’s dark outside. You’ve probably wondered how these items actually work and if it’s true that you can see in the dark.

Your dilemma has an answer because indeed, you can see clearly even in low light conditions. If you get the proper gear, you can see the person standing over 250 yards on a moonless night.

When it comes to choosing the suitable equipment, you have to opt between goggles, binoculars, and monoculars.

Monoculars are basically single eye units that don’t feature any magnification. However, a good quality monocular is quite versatile and comes in handy if you want to enhance your night vision experience.

 

Also, these devices are incredibly lightweight and can be used for head mounting if the situation occurs. There are advanced monoculars that can be easily affixed to riffle or spotting scopes. This way, you can see your target clearly during the hunting session. If you want, you can adapt the night vision monocular to a camera using a special adaptor. Basically, this small unit can be carried in your pocket so you can use it for several purposes.

The only possible drawback is that you have to continuously switch back and forth from one eye to another. When one eye gets tired, you need to use the other eye and so on. Therefore, you need to get used until it feels natural to use the monocular.

Next, we’ve got the night vision goggles work similar to the monoculars because they don’t have magnification and can be mounted on your head. However, the major positive aspect of them is that they feel incredibly natural and don’t require practice in order to get used to them. Generally, you’ll find two types of goggles, two eye-piece units that allow you to view the image through a single tube and others that enable the vision using dual image tubes, known as well as stereo-vision pieces.  

The goggles are incredibly useful for situations when you have to walk or run. Dual tube goggles that provide stereo vision basically offer you the opportunity to see the same image but with a slight difference between both eyes. These are practical devices for depth perception and improved navigation ability.

Night vision binoculars are two-eyepieces items that are outfitted with built-in magnification. Thanks to the magnification zoom you can see at longer distances. So, if you are given the task to remain in place and capture the images at long range at night, you should stick to night vision binoculars.